12 Must-Read Books - Biola University

Fall 2006
12 Must-Read Books
RECOMMENDED BY BIOLA FACULTY
Iran’s President Religious Liberty Bad Movies Student Contract

02 WHAT’S NEW
BIOLA CONNECTIONS FALL ’06
My Book
Recommendation
I
f you have ever been to my office, you have noticed all the books that
line my shelves. In fact, I ran out of wall space and had to build an
annex outside of my office that houses hundreds more.
Often when I have a visitor, they ask me if I have read them all
and I reply, “Not all of them, but almost all of them.” The exclusions
would be the multivolume commentaries where I haven’t gone
through each page, but refer to them when I am working on a sermon
or for my own curiosity.
In this issue of Biola Connections, we have asked 12 faculty
members to recommend one book from their disciplines of which all
of our readers would benefit, and the editors asked me to do the same.
This is a formidable task, as there are so many books that I could
recommend and have recommended to various people at different
stages of their lives. However, if I had to choose one author, it would be
F.W. Boreham, who has written so many wonderful books and, of all his
writings, the one that I use over and over again is The Luggage of Life. My
father gave this book to me as a teenager, and I had no idea how much
I would use it and how often I would share various parts of it.
Perhaps the chapter that I use the most is called, “The Tireless
Trudge.” In this chapter Boreham discusses “which is the most trying
part of a long journey”? Is it the initial steps, the final stage or the
middle part? He uses both The Pilgrim’s Progress and Isaiah 40:12-31 to
illustrate his point. Another wonderful chapter in the book is “Our
Highway Robberies,” where he shares several illustrations of people
being robbed or facing calamitous events and, yet, having a perspective
on the eternal.
The book, originally published in 1912, has been reprinted by Kregel
Publications and, if you can get a copy of it, I would urge you to do so. At
least as I write this today, that would be my recommendation.
CPresident
CONTENTS
FEA TURES
10. Twelve Must-Read Books:
Your Back-to-School
Reading List Recommended
by Biola Faculty
20. The Biggest Threat to
Religious Liberty
By Michael H. Koby (’88)

DEPA RTMENTS
04. 1,000 WORDS
06. READER MAIL
You tell us.
07. ASK AN EXPERT
Jeff Morton (D.Miss. ’03) and Josh Lingel (M.A. ’00)
explain the religious beliefs of Iran’s president.
08. BIOLA BULLETIN
Freshman Brittany McCombs sparks national freespeech
debate, Talbot extends its reach, and more.
09. NEWS BRIEFS
AROUND CAMPUS
22. Student Life
23. In Print
24. Continuing Ed
25. Faculty News
26. Development
AROUND THE WORLD
28. Misc.
30. Alumni Files
31. Alumni News
33. Biolans Up Close
34. NEWS & NOTES
Find out what old (and young) friends are up to!
39. IN CONTEXT
Dr. David Black sheds light on a misinterpreted
Bible passage, John 21:15-17.
Biola Connections is published quarterly by Biola University’s Department of Integrated Marketing
Communications and is sent to alumni, parents, supporters and friends of the University. Biola’s mission is
biblically centered education, scholarship and service – equipping men and women in mind and character to
impact the world for the Lord Jesus Christ.
Send correspondence to: Biola Connections, 13800 Biola Avenue, La Mirada, CA 90639-0001, e-mail
connections@biola.edu or call (562) 906-4516. For address changes, e-mail alumni@biola.edu or call
Constituency Records at (562) 903-4774.
Staff: Editor in Chief, Rob Westervelt; Managing Editor, Holly Pivec; Design, Dwayne Cogdill / Cognition
Design; Copy Editor, Amy Leonhardt (’01); Editorial Board: Rick Bee (’79, M.A. ’90, Ph.D. ’01), Dwayne
Cogdill, Adam Morris (’90, M.A. ’97, Ph.D. ’02), Irene Neller, Holly (Peters, ’99, M.A. ’05) Pivec, Rob
Westervelt (M.A. ’97), Wesley K. Willmer
BIOLA CONNECTIONS FALL ’06
03

04
1,000 WORDS
PHOTO BY MICHAEL MUSSER

On Set
BIOLA CONNECTIONS FALL ’06
Several Biolans took part in an independent film — a comedy titled Growing Out — shot in
Biola’s Warren Studio over the summer. The set was designed by Shari (Karstensen, ’01)
Ratliff, whose husband, Graham, directed the film. Other alumni who participated were
Andrew Wahlquist (’00) (production manager) and Tom McCarty (’96) (1st assistant
camera and steadicam operator). Four students also helped: Robert Ferguson (2nd
assistant director), Nate Udall (digital image technician), Melissa Cobb (2nd assistant
camera) and Beth Avery (production assistant and intern).
05

06 READER MAIL BIOLA CONNECTIONS FALL ’06
Too Culturally Sensitive
I very much appreciated Holly Pivec’s piece, “The ‘D’ Word.” I found it objective and balanced. It seems
to me that the emerging church movement has it right and wrong all at the same time. They are looking
for “more” because they (the seekers of God) are not finding Jesus in the church. They say that there
is too much doctrine and not enough action, but the problem is the doctrine is being heard but not done
(James 1:22) much of the time, and it starts with each one of us spending time alone with God, in His
Word, everyday. They seem to think that the church is not culturally sensitive enough. The problem in
the American church, at least, is there is no difference between much of the “church” and the world. It
is too culturally sensitive. We don’t need less doctrine or watered down doctrine, we need the real
doctrine of being doers of the Word and not hearers only, deceiving ourselves.
Marriage Statistic Misleading
I want to applaud your editorial staff for the
unique service you render to alumni and other
constituents through Biola Connections. The
articles are well written, intensely interesting
and timely. But the best thing about your
excellent magazine is that it consistently deals
with subjects that no other publications that
I’m aware of are addressing. However, I would
like to suggest that the oft-quoted statistic
about the failure of Christian marriages is
misleading. It may be true that as many
Christian marriages as non-Christian marriages
do fail. But we must keep in mind that more
non-Christian couples are living together
without the benefit of marriage than are their
Christian counterparts, a statistic that is not
factored into official marriage records. More
often than not, these “pretend marriages” do
not endure, but they are not recorded as
divorces. I think we undermine the many
advantages of Christian marriage when we quote
the statistic without the above caveat.
Ken Bemis (’54)
Placentia, Calif.
Alarming and Appalling
As a survey of the state of doctrinal understanding
in the church, your article “The ‘D’
Marc Pinneo
Tustin, Calif.
Word” was both alarming and appalling. If we
don’t pass on the historic doctrines of the
faith, we don’t pass on the faith. Let’s not
forget that we have been down this road
before. When the higher critics threw out the
miraculous because their pea brains could not
take it in, mainstream churches began to treat
the signs of Christ’s divinity as myths.
Inexorably, Christ became just another great
teacher, and all those stories became
symbolic tales of moral uplift. The latest
challenge to the Trinity could not have come
about if the evangelical church had not
neglected church history.
Marita Vargas (’80)
Napa, Calif.
What Doctrine Fanatics Missed
Thank you for your excellent article on the
apparent growing disfavor with formal
doctrine. The quotes and observations you
chose are well taken. Having spent the
majority of my adult life leaning toward the
fundamentalist side of evangelicalism, I’ve
observed for years the current rejection of
“seminary” doctrinal statements the size of
dictionaries. I took all those “right” classes at
Bible college then spent 18 years in a church
in the General Association of Regular Baptist
Churches. At this point in my life, I honestly
can’t remember most of the intellectual
rabbit trails I got graded on; they just aren’t
relevant to living a day at a time in the
presence of Jesus. The church of which I’m
now a member (and totally condemned by my
Baptist acquaintances) states simply, “Loving
God, Loving People” — the Great Commandment.
Most of the “doctrine” fanatics have
completely missed that one.
Bob Edgar
Monmouth, Ore.
I Was Startled
Today we received the summer edition of Biola
Connections. I was startled and dismayed to see
such a clean, but homely, large face on the cover.
We enjoyed the variety of thought-provoking
articles in Biola Connections. But there must be a
more attractive way to get our attention. On
page 28 is a display of past Biola Connections, and
I notice a lot of them have a lot of large faces on
them, too. I plan to put this magazine face down
on our reading table. Hopefully the next issue
will have more eye appeal.
Louise DeVries
Seal Beach, Calif.
T E L L U S W H A T Y O U T H I N K ! — E-MAIL: connections@biola.edu — MAIL: Reader Mail, Biola Connections, 13800 Biola Avenue, La Mirada, CA 90639
FAX: (562) 906-4547 Opinions should be a maximum of 200 words and include full name, city and state, and class year (if applicable). They may be edited for length and clarity.

Most people know about world leaders’ concern
over Iran’s nuclear program, but what many people
don’t know is the role religion plays in Iranian
president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s decision
making. Biola Connections asked two experts on
Islam, Jeff Morton (D.Miss. ’03) and Josh Lingel
(M.A. ’00), to explain Ahmadinejad’s views.
Explain Ahmadinejad’s religious beliefs.
Ahmadinejad is a “Twelve-Imam Shia” (also
known as a “Twelver”), the largest sect of Shia
Islam and Iran’s state religion. Shia Muslims are
a minority sect in Islam and are ignored by most
Western academia and media. Yet, Shias remain
influential, representing 10 to 15 percent of
Muslims worldwide. They are the majority religious
population in a number of countries
including Iraq, Iran, Azerbaijan, Lebanon and
Bahrain. In addition, major minority populations
of Shias exist in other countries, including
Pakistan, India, Turkey, Nigeria and China.
Within the Twelver sect, there is great eschatological
expectation related to the return of a
messianic figure called the Mahdi. The Iranian
president believes he is preparing the way for
the Mahdi’s return. During most of his major
speeches, Ahmadinejad refers to the Mahdi,
including a UN speech in September 2005 when
he shocked world leaders by using his platform,
not to allay their fears over his nuclear program,
but to preach about Iran’s apocalyptic struggle
against the West and to pray for the Mahdi’s
return. Later, he claimed an aura of light surrounded
him during the speech and that the
world leaders appeared spellbound by his message.
But the world leaders said their astonished
faces didn’t indicate openness, but alarm.
Who is the “Mahdi” and
what is a “Twelver”?
Twelvers believe the Mahdi is the 12th Imam
(Shia leader) in succession after the first Imam,
Ali (Muhammad’s cousin and son-in-law).
According to a popular tradition, the 12th Imam,
Abul Qasim Muhammad, was born to the 11th
Imam in 868 A.D. The Muslim leaders were not
aware of his birth, however, so when the 11th
BIOLA CONNECTIONS FALL ’06 ASK AN EXPERT 07
What Should Christians Know About the Religious
Views of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad?
The religious views of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, which aren’t widely known,
play a major role in his policy making.
Imam died, his uncle, Ja’far, became the official
12th Imam. But when Ja’far went to recite the
funeral prayers for the deceased 11th Imam, a
young boy came forward — Abul Qasim
Muhammad. When asked who the boy was,
Ja’far claimed he didn’t know. From that time
on, the boy disappeared into a well and went into
“occultation” (hiding) from his enemies. Many
Shias believe he is alive to this day, his life having
been miraculously prolonged by God. He has
remained hidden, however, until an appointed
time. Shias believe the 12th Imam, or the Mahdi,
is the Lord of the Age and is sovereign over the
affairs of men. Further, he will return from the
heavens shortly before the Day of Judgment with
Jesus behind him, leading the righteous in a
battle to defeat his enemies. Then he will restore
Sharia (Islamic law). Faithful Shias pray for his
return near the “Well of the Occultation” at a
mosque in the village of Jamkaran.
Why do Ahmadinejad’s
beliefs concern world leaders?
World leaders believe Ahmadinejad is linked to
a secretive Iranian group called the “Hojjatieh
Society,” which was banned by Ayatollah
Khomeini in the early 1980s. The society
believes the Mahdi’s return can be hastened by
the creation of chaos on earth. (According to
Shia prophecies, an apocalyptic scenario will
precede the return of the Mahdi.) This is a
reason world leaders fear nuclear weapons in
the hands of Ahmadinejad, who has openly
stated that Israel must be “wiped off the
map.” Some world leaders have speculated
that Ahmadinejad’s defiance of world leaders
is intended to provoke a war to speed up the
Mahdi’s return, according to a Jan. 14 article
published in the (U.K.) Telegraph.
Jeff Morton (D.Miss.’03)
and Josh Lingel (M.A.’00)
are adjunct professors at Biola teaching
in the field of Islamic studies. Morton
teaches courses in the School of Intercultural
Studies. He has a doctorate in
missiology from Biola. Lingel teaches in
the biblical studies department, M.A.
Christian Apologetics, and Talbot
School of Theology. He has a master’s
degree in philosophy of religion and
ethics from Talbot and a second postgraduate
degree in “Islamic History: Islamic
Societies and Cultures” from the School of Oriental
and African Studies at the University of London.
UPI Photo / Mohammad Kheirkhah

08 BIOLA BULLETIN BIOLA CONNECTIONS FALL ’06
Freshman Brittany McCombs
Sparks National Free-Speech Debate
Freshman Brittany McCombs made several media appearances after her
controversial graduation speech in June.
Brittany McCombs, an incoming freshmen
at Biola this fall, found herself at the
center of a national media storm after
her graduation at Foothill High School
in Clark County, Nev., in June.
The debate started when McCombs, who
was a graduating valedictorian of her class, made
references to God and Christ in her speech.
Previously, the school had previewed the
speech in written form and edited out references
to her Christian faith. McCombs agreed to
the revisions, but later decided to include them
in her speech. When school officials realized she
was giving the unedited speech, they cut the
sound on her microphone, receiving angry boos
from the crowd of 400 graduates and their families.
The local news stations immediately
received a number of complaints from attendees
who were angry that McCombs wasn’t
allowed to finish her speech.
News of the incident soon swept the country
in a flurry of heated debate over issues of free
speech and the separation of church and state.
The story was covered by a number of major
media outlets who interviewed McCombs,
including FOX News’ “Hannity & Colmes,”
MSNBC’s “The Today Show” and “Scarborough
Country,” and the Associated Press.
McCombs told Biola Connections that she
had no idea the amount of controversy her
speech would spark. She said she regretted
lying to school officials, saying she felt turmoil
as she wrestled with her decision to give
the original speech.
“I wanted to tell my classmates about the
impact that Christ had on my life,” she said.
“He’s been the source of all of my success. It was
like they were telling me that I couldn’t say how
my mother impacted me because her name is
too offensive.”
Gary Peck, the executive director of the
American Civil Liberties Union in Nevada,
spoke with Biola Connections, defending the
actions of the school officials. “It is inappropriate
to be using the graduation podium as a
pulpit,” Peck said. “It was a school-sponsored
event, and she was plainly proselytizing. She
was expressing how the people in the audience
should be relating to God.”
Kevin Lewis, an assistant professor of
theology and law at Biola’s seminary, Talbot
School of Theology, disagrees with Peck, say-
ing, “The school was clearly not endorsing
her religious speech. She was not an official
representative of the school. She was simply
chosen to give a commencement address
because she was a class valedictorian. Therefore,
to deny Brittany the right to express her
viewpoint — that Jesus Christ is the key to
success in life — was a violation of her
inalienable constitutional rights.”
McCombs told Biola Connections that she
has received overwhelming support from people
all over the country, including atheists, who
believe her rights to free speech were violated.
McCombs’ attorneys are reviewing her case to
determine if they will take further legal action.
McCombs was accepted into Biola’s
Torrey Honors Institute and plans to major in
journalism.
“Biola really impressed me,” she said,
adding that she was especially impressed with
the University’s commitment to truth. “This
school is all about seeking truth and not being
afraid of seeking answers because it believes
that, in the end, the truth will lead to Christ,”
McCombs said. — Joel Bergman
Talbot Extends Its Reach
Biola’s seminary, Talbot School of Theology,
will soon begin offering programs in Kiev,
Ukraine, and Manhattan, New York.
Next March, a master of arts degree in biblical
and theological studies will be offered in
Kiev, in partnership with Kiev Theological

Seminary. Classes will be taught by faculty from
Talbot’s main campus and from Kiev Theological
Seminary along with newly hired faculty
from European countries.
The decision to open the extension site
was made after Talbot officials learned of
Kiev’s need for western-style biblical training
for pastors, according to David Miller,
Biola’s associate director of graduate admissions.
The classes, however, will be adapted to
the Ukrainian culture, Miller said. The “Cults
of America” class, for example — which is a
required class on Talbot’s main campus — will
be revamped to focus on cults that are growing
in Ukraine, like Mormonism. Also,
apologetics issues that are addressed in the
curriculum will be relevant to Ukrainian culture,
like the prevalence of superstition in
local villages. Miller expects 15 to 20 students
during the program’s first term.
As soon as Talbot receives approval from
the State of New York, it plans to open another
extension site in Manhattan, offering a
master of divinity in Messianic Jewish studies.
Offered in partnership with Chosen
People Ministries, this degree will be tailored
for Messianic Jewish Christians and those
who reach out to Jewish people, according to
Miller. About 15 to 20 students are expected
for the first term, and the classes will be
taught by Talbot faculty and faculty from
Chosen People Ministries.
Talbot’s enrollment has grown over 19 percent
since 2003.
BIOLA CONNECTIONS FALL ’06 NEWS BRIEFS 09
Alumnus Cast in
Pirates of the Caribbean
Jay Tapaoan (’03) spent a month on
the Caribbean island of Dominica
acting the part of a cannibal for the
filming of Pirates of the Caribbean:
Dead Man’s Chest. He auditioned for the
role after learning that Walt Disney Studios
was seeking young actors who looked like
Pacific Islanders. Tapaoan, who majored in
film/television/radio/journalism at Biola,
said his acting and improvisational experience
while he was a student helped land
him the role. Each day, he had to arrive at
the set at 3 a.m. to have four hours of makeup
applied. Tapaoan said it was an “amazing
experience” to work with such talented
people, including Johnny Depp. “I was just
a sponge during those days, just trying to
soak up anything I could from these amazing
actors,” he said. Watch an interview with
Tapaoan online (www.biola.edu).
Applications Reach Record High
Biola received another record year of applications
in 2006, a total of 4,133, up from
3,875 in 2005 — a 6.7 percent increase.
Since three years ago, applications to Biola
have increased 23 percent (738 applications).
The undergraduate programs
received 199 more applications this year,
and the graduate programs received 56
more applications. The average high
school GPA of incoming freshmen in 2005
was 3.53 and the average SAT was 1125.
Biola Offers Classes in the OC
This fall, Biola opened an extension site in
Orange County, Calif., offering three adult
degree programs in Biola’s School of
Professional Studies: a B.A. in psychology,
a B.S. in organizational leadership and an
M.A. in organizational leadership. It also
offers Bible electives. The site is located at
24422 Avenida de la Carlota in Laguna Hills.
Other Biola sites are located in Chino,
Inglewood, San Bernardino, San Diego and
Thousand Oaks. For more information, call
(562) 903-4712.
Alumnae Recognized
in Photography Contest
Two art students who graduated this past
spring, Marilyn Foute and Jennifer Yount,
were finalists in Photographer Forum
Magazine’s “26th Annual College Photography
Contest.” Their photos — a color
portrait by Foute and a black-and-white
landscape by Yount — were published in
the Best of College Photography Annual
2006. Over 28,000 photos were entered in
the contest. See photos on page 38.

10 BIOLA CONNECTIONS FALL ’06
Twelve Must -
RECOMMENDED BY BIOLA FACULTY
Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “A man is known by the books he reads.” People are always seeking sugges-
tions on what to read. With a new school year starting, what better time to give Biola Connections readers book
recommendations? ● Twelve professors from Biola’s six schools gave us their top picks — one book per month.

BIOLA CONNECTIONS FALL ’06 11
Read Books
The professors were given a tough task: Of all the books you’ve read and assigned, choose just one related to
your discipline that you think is both valuable and accessible. The reasons for their selections varied — some
chose books to stretch and challenge readers, some to provide insight, and others to equip and develop them — pro-
fessionally, personally and spiritually. ● All their choices were reflections of themselves. ● Now, go hit the books!

12 BIOLA CONNECTIONS FALL ’06
Michael Musser
Marc Apkarian, Ph.D.
Recently read: Dinner With a Perfect Stranger by David Gregory
A Short History of Renaissance and Reformation Europe: Dances over Fire and
Water (Prentice Hall) by Jonathan Zophy
Leland Edward Wilshire, Ph.D., Professor of History
About Wilshire: Wilshire became fascinated with Renaissance and
Reformation history in college one semester when he took an integrative
course in which all his classes tied into these two movements, including art, music, literature,
history and theology. Wilshire — who believes there is a strand of anti-intellectualism in evangelicalism
— is passionate about conveying to his students that scholarship, including historical
studies, can glorify Christ. He is writing a book titled Human Voices and Institutional Structures in
Thirteenth-Century England.
Why this book? The book combines scholarship with excitement. By the metaphor “dances,”
Zophy means to convey that the leading individuals of this era soar above earlier periods. They seem
almost superhuman in their artistic, intellectual and religious achievements. By the metaphors
“fire” and “water,” Zophy wants to bring out the horrific aspects of the period: war, famine, epidemics,
poverty, illiteracy and the torture and public executions of heretics and Anabaptists. The
book also understands the power of religious conversion. For example, you cannot explain Luther
unless you understand his experience of grace. Women artists such as Sofonisba Anguissola and
Artemisia Gentileschi are given a place with Titian and Raphael. It is supplemented by a companion
book of primary source readings, including Dante, Erasmus, Luther, Zwingli and Calvin.
Advice to readers: Become so interested in a subject that you just have to read about it.
Simple Health: Easy and Inexpensive Things You Can Do To Improve Your Health
(Siloam Press) by David Biebel and Harold Koenig
Marc Apkarian, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Kinesiology, Health and
Physical Education
About Apkarian: Apkarian is an advocate for holistic health development that
results from Christian perspectives, emphasizing spirit, mind and body. His academic
and professional background is in exercise physiology, the scientific study
of how exercise affects the human body acutely (short term) and chronically (long term). He wrote his
Ph.D. dissertation about the immediate effects of weight lifting on blood pressure and heart rate, titled
“Continuous Assessment Of Blood Pressure During Weight Lifting Using Arterial Tonometry.”
Why this book? It’s simple to understand, practical to apply and sound in its rationale. Simple
Health does a terrific job of addressing the role of multiple factors in healthy living, including sense
of humor, creativity, stress management, physical exercise and rest, proper diet, nurturing of relationships,
selflessness, and living according to your Creator’s purpose for your life. Every time I
thumb through it, I seem to encounter yet one more valuable point to consider about health.
One caution: I have no glaring warnings, but readers who enjoy dissecting spiritual minutia
may have some philosophical departures from certain perspectives of the authors. In my opinion,
that may arise largely due to matters of semantics, as the overall spirit of the book in promoting
“well-rounded” health is excellent.
Advice for students: Be intentional. To get anywhere in life — with school, a career, health or even to experience spiritual growth — intentionality
has to be there.
Fun facts: I prefer reading outdoors. Also, I’d like to write a book about the health benefits of resistance training.
History
Health
Leland Edward Wilshire, Ph.D.
Advice to students: I start each semester with Philippians 1:6. Many students do not realize that God is perfecting them, God is working in them,
and that they are a good work, valuable and precious.
Fun facts: My favorite place to read is a large, red chair in my living room. My favorite historical character is Robert Grosseteste, a brilliant scientist
and a very spiritual bishop of Lincoln, England, in the 13th century.
Michael Musser
Louis Felix

Marla Campbell, Ph.D.
Missions and Evangelism
The Celtic Way of Evangelism: How Christianity Can Reach the West … Again (Abingdon Press) by George Hunter, III
Marla Campbell, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Intercultural Studies
BIOLA CONNECTIONS FALL ’06 13
About Campbell: Campbell recently completed a sabbatical of research on returning Europe to its spiritual roots. She also
helped establish a spiritual retreat center in Tarragona, Spain. Campbell said God called her to teach when she was eight years
old, when she gave her life to Christ. Later, she felt an additional calling to missions while she was reading Isaiah 6:8-9 — the
famous passage where God asks who He can send and Isaiah volunteers. Campbell has written several books, including a book
in progress that has the working titles, Teaching for Transformation or Teaching for Change, co-authored with Judith Lingenfelter,
a Biola professor emeritus.
Why this book? It shows the similarity of the early centuries of Christianity in pagan Europe to the quest for evangelism in our
current neopagan Western society. It’s very readable and gives an intriguing connection to then and now, along with poignant
suggestions for current evangelism, mentorship and spiritual formation. The Lord truly used this book to propel me into my
travel, interviews and research in Western Europe over the past three years.
Recently read: Byzantium by Stephen Lawhead, Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen, and various books related to Celtic
Christianity
Advice to readers: We all do exactly what we’re intentional about and make time for. Set aside doable time allotments in your
schedule to read. Don’t attempt War and Peace for an evening of relaxing reading!
Advice to students: Be intentional. Make a God-directed plan. Don’t let the secular, frenetic pace dictate what you will do or
squeeze you into a mold that God has not ordained for your life. But, to know God’s plan for you, you have to sit at His feet regularly
and listen.
Fun facts: I love to read on airplanes, especially John Grisham novels. Other favorite places are my prayer corner at home in
my overstuffed chair and the hammock in my backyard.

14 BIOLA CONNECTIONS FALL ’06
Louis Felix
Lisa Swain, M.A.
Pop Culture
The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference (Back Bay Books) by Malcolm Gladwell
Lisa Swain, M.A., Associate Professor of Mass Communication
About Swain: Swain has worked in the entertainment industry for the past 15 years as a production supervisor on film projects
ranging in budget from $15 million to $150 million. Her credits include the commercially successful movies Big Fish, Anger
Management, America’s Sweethearts, Face/Off, Varsity Blues and Mars Attacks! She also worked in dramatic television as the
production coordinator on Amblin Entertainment’s SeaQuest and in the sitcom world on the Family Channel’s Big Brother Jake.
Why this book? It’s a fascinating book that derives commonsense conclusions from a cross-section of studies about what
motivates people in their decision-making process. One study that really impacted me looked at the motivation behind certain
behavioral choices made by a group of seminary students. The study found we are more likely to make choices based on things
like time availability than on our convictions. That really resonated with me. Ultimately, I quit my time-consuming career in
the film industry to devote myself to teaching.
Advice to readers: I don’t look at reading as something I have to find time to do. I see it as a lifeline to keep ideas alive
and churning in my mind.
Recently read: A Generous Orthodoxy by Brian McLaren, The Rape of the Masters by Roger Kimball and Sophie’s Choice by
William Styron
Fun facts: When writing, I have to stew things over until I can’t stand it. Then I’ll write non-stop. I shop at Skylight
Books in Los Angeles.

Louis Felix
Michael Musser
Technology
The World Is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century (Farrar, Straus
and Giroux) by Thomas Friedman
David Bourgeois, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Information Systems
About Bourgeois: Bourgeois came to Biola after 15 years in the information
technology industry because he wanted to use his skills in professional
Christian ministry. He focuses on how information systems — i.e., computer
technology — can be used to make organizations more effective.
Bourgeois would like to write a book on the use of technology to empower churches and missions,
and this topic is a focus of a campus club he started last year, called the “Biola Information
Technology Society” (BITS).
Why this book? I teach business students about how technology is impacting the world, and
this book neatly summarizes many of those changes. It is important to understand not just
how to use technology, but also to understand the bigger picture — the context of how it is
impacting things on a larger scale. The key point is that our world has changed from one
where nations were centers of power to one where organizations — and now individuals —
have power as never before.
One caution: The author is so enamored with how our world is changing that he does not provide
insight into the negative impacts that these changes are having on what God cares about
most — people.
Recently read: Spiritual Leadership by J. Oswald Sanders
Any library fines? Sore subject. But librarians are pretty nice to faculty on this count.
BIOLA CONNECTIONS FALL ’06 15
Fun facts: I usually read three books at a time: one for my spiritual life, one for my academic or professional life, and one for fun. I read during
workouts and have been known to stay up all hours of the night finishing a good book. But I don’t have patience for books that don’t “grab” me.
Amy Obrist, Ph.D.
Literature
The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky
David Bourgeois, Ph.D.
Amy Obrist, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of English
About Obrist: Obrist specializes in Russian language and literature, which
evolved from a passionate interest in foreign languages since she first
opened her high school German book. She became hooked on Russian literature
after studying Dostoevsky and the Cold War. She is especially interested
in the potential of literature to transform a person spiritually.
Why this book? It reminded me that I cared about my soul at a time when I had forgotten.
I also saw from this book that my own answers to spiritual questions matter to God, and that
God and heaven mattered to me. Ultimately, this book made me realize that faith is for
thinking people, too.
One caution: Perhaps one should be aware that it is not an easy read, even out of sheer length.
Advice to students: Study abroad. Spend as much time as you can learning about people different
from yourself. Don’t try to graduate early by rushing through without the so-called
“extras.” Education is not about the amassing of a certain number of credit units leading to a
degree. It is time spent investigating interests that God has given you. If you are so inclined and
gifted, then please go to graduate school. The world could use a lot more smart, analytical and
thoughtful Christians.
Fun facts: I read compulsively. I prioritize reading over things that other people tend to put first. My house is a wreck, but at least the books are right
there. They are on shelves in every room, stacked in piles next to the shelves, and stacked in piles on other surfaces not meant for them. There is a
shortish stack in each car and boxes in my garage and in storage.

16 BIOLA CONNECTIONS FALL ’06
Louis Felix
Brad Christerson, Ph.D.
Integrity: The Courage to Meet the Demands of Reality (Collins) by Henry
Cloud
Daniel Maltby, Ph.D., Professor of Management and Executive Leadership,
Director of the Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership Program
About Maltby: Maltby is convinced that there are better ways to lead and
motivate people than most think. He gets excited about leadership development
and helping to raise the leadership competence of working professionals.
Maltby has held senior management positions in the private sector and in international
Christian organizations and has 15 years management consulting experience, including
serving Fortune 500 firms. He also co-founded two Christian leadership organizations, the
National Network of Youth Ministries, which now has 15,000 members, and High Ground
Associates, a networking association for Christian executives.
Why this book? It speaks to the issue of character in our lives, which is a big issue, not only in
business, but in every aspect of our lives. Using Scripture, Cloud provides a new paradigm for
understanding what character is all about and how each of us can self-assess our own character.
He suggests that most of the evangelical teaching on character today focuses on moral issues and
tends to overlook other dimensions, such as building healthy relationships, pursuing truth, the
responsibility for self-development and more.
Recently read: Management Challenges for the 21 st Century by Peter Drucker
Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger: Moving From Affluence to Generosity
(W Publishing Group) by Ronald Sider
Brad Christerson, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Sociology
About Christerson: Christerson took his first sociology course while a
junior in college and was shocked to realize the amount of suffering and
injustice in the world — most of which, he said, was invisible to him as a
comfortable, middle-class, suburban American. He is writing a book on
racial and ethnic differences in the way American teenagers experience life, with Biola colleague
Richard Flory and Korie Edwards at Ohio State University. He is co-author of Against All Odds:
The Struggle for Racial Integration in Religious Organizations (NYU Press).
Why this book? Roughly one out of six people on earth are poor, hungry and barely surviving.
This book shows not only that we wealthy American Christians are failing to respond to this crisis,
but also that we are part of the problem. It made me question my entire way of life — the way
I live, spend money, my politics, and my vision of the good life.
One caution: The author’s solutions to alleviating suffering may or may not be viable. He’s a
theologian, not an expert in economic development.
Advice to readers: Turn off the TV and get off the Internet. You’ll be amazed at how much time
you’ll have.
Advice to students: Let God lead you — don’t over-plan your life. He has things in mind for you that you can’t imagine or plan yourself right now.
Fun facts: I can’t stand reading my own writing. I have to have others critique it because I get too bored to read it carefully myself. Also, I use weird
things for bookmarks. I’ve used rocks, blades of grass, dental floss. Once I used a dirty sock — my wife was horrified.
Leadership
Social Justice Louis
Daniel Maltby, Ph.D.
Advice to students: Know thyself. We can’t give to God what we haven’t first possessed ourselves. Seek to understand what drives you, give that ability
to God, and He will multiply your life with good things.
Fun facts: I find time to read very early in the morning, and I also keep “library days,” when I spend at least part of a day in the library, away from
distractions. Before starting a new book, I like to page through all the chapters to get a sense of where the author is going.
Felix

Steve Rundle, Ph.D.
Current Issues
Why the Rest Hates the West: Understanding the Roots of Global Rage (IVP) by Meic Pearse
Steven Rundle, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Economics
BIOLA CONNECTIONS FALL ’06 17
About Rundle: Rundle’s main focus as an economist is on the intersection between international economics and world missions.
He believes Christian businesspeople will be the vanguard of the missionary movement in the 21st century. Rundle is
particularly interested in developing countries and is writing a book that looks at globalization from a Christian perspective. He
is co-author of Great Commission Companies: The Emerging Role of Business in Missions (IVP) with Biola professor Tom Steffen.
Why this book? It has made me acutely aware of how different and threatening our Western “values” are to the rest of the
world. Take “tolerance,” for example. This once meant tolerating people from different subcultures who have different ideas
about the truth. Today it implies moral relativism and an abdication of truth claims. People in the non-Western world who are
proud of their cultures feel threatened by what they perceive as pressure to conform to Western “values” like these. It’s a mustread
for those who intend to work alongside people from other cultures.
Recently read: The End of Poverty by Jeffery Sachs, The World is Flat by Thomas Friedman and Marley & Me by John Grogan
Advice to readers: Turn off your TV! My wife works in the medical field, and she says when it comes to people in their “Golden
Years,” it’s easy to tell the difference between those who read regularly and those who don’t. Reading keeps the mind sharp and
keeps conversations interesting. So, whatever it takes, keep reading!
Fun Facts: I read up to six books at a time and assign 10 to 12 books to my students per school year. My favorite place to read is
my porch, and I prefer to go to the mountains or a hotel for a long weekend when I write. If possible, I bring my espresso
machine so I won’t have to leave the room for my latte fix.

18 BIOLA CONNECTIONS FALL ’06
Steve Porter, Ph.D.
Spiritual Formation
Renovation of the Heart: Putting on the Character of Christ (NavPress) by Dallas Willard
Steven Porter, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Theology and Philosophy
About Porter: Porter believes that to consistently experience spiritual transformation, Christians must have a clear understanding
of the dynamics of the Spirit’s transforming work. He said teaching about this process is a dream come true for him.
He’s beginning to write a book on an integrative theology of sanctification. He also has a book due out in December: Restoring
the Foundations of Epistemic Justification: A Direct Realist and Conceptualist Theory of Foundationalism (Lexington Books).
Why this book? It almost goes without saying that there is much confusion in evangelicalism on how to live life as a flourishing
follower of Jesus. Some go from one “solution” to the next, others keep themselves busy “working for the Lord,” while still
others end up a bit apathetic to it all. Willard cuts through this contemporary situation by offering a penetrating diagnosis and
prescription for our spiritual lives. You will find no superficial quick fixes or pat answers — each sentence is loaded with knowledge
and depth of insight. The Lord has greatly used this book in my own formation in Christ — whether that is in becoming
more kind to my wife and son or becoming more patient with the guy who cuts me off on the freeway.
One caution: This is not light reading, so prepare yourself for an intense time of study. Although I am unaware of any major
disagreements I have with the book, we should always read critically.
Recently read: The Contented Soul: The Art of Savoring Life by Lisa Graham McMinn
Advice to students: I find my students are pretty hard on themselves when it comes to their spiritual lives, relationships with
others, vocational plans, etc. I encourage them to give themselves more space and time to grow and grace when they fail.
Fun facts: I assign over 30 books to my students in a school year, and I, myself, usually have about seven or eight books going
at once. But I will be lucky to finish half of those, so I try to schedule time in my day planner for reading. My favorite bookstore
is Acres of Books in Long Beach.

Louis Felix
Theology
Louis Felix
He Shines In All That’s Fair: Culture and Common Grace (Wm. B. Eerdmans)
by Richard Mouw
Richard Langer, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Biblical Studies and
Theological Integration
About Langer: Langer became interested in the discipline of theological
integration during 20 years of pastoral ministry, as he sought to make the
Scriptures and Christian faith relevant to the daily lives of the members of
his church in Redlands, Calif. He and several faculty members are developing integration seminars
to help students integrate their faith with their majors.
Why this book? It contains a delightful discussion of the much-neglected doctrine of
common grace — the grace God extends to all people, regardless of their faith or lack of
faith in Christ. By common grace, God not only provides for our physical needs by sending
“rain on the just and the unjust alike” and providing “seed to the sower and bread for
food,” but He also gives us the gifts of human language, culture and government. Plus, it
should be on everyone’s reading list because it actually draws out coherent, practical
implications from the debate between infralapsarianism and supralapsarianism (the
logical order in God’s mind concerning election to salvation)!
One caution: As we deepen our appreciation of common grace, it is easy to neglect the
ministry of saving grace. Such a tension should be creative and dynamic when both are
firmly grasped; however, we all too often favor one at the expense of the other. Mouw’s book is certainly not to be faulted for this, but it is a
danger that accompanies the topic.
Fun facts: Whenever I go through Portland, Ore., I have to stop at Powell’s Bookstore. It is the most bizarre hodgepodge of buildings you will ever
see, but has a great selection. Also, I had my television set “broken” so it doesn’t get reception. Only watching DVDs minimizes my amount of TV
watching, creating more time for reading.
Todd Hall, Ph.D.
BIOLA CONNECTIONS FALL ’06 19
Psychology
Richard Langer, Ph.D.
Becoming Attached: First Relationships and How They Shape Our Capacity to
Love (Oxford University Press) by Robert Karen
Todd Hall, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Psychology
About Hall: Hall said he entered the field of psychology because he
wanted to be involved in ministry since the church had a big impact on
him growing up. Early on in college, he began to see that psychology
could provide tools for understanding spiritual growth. He co-edited a
book titled Spiritual Formation, Counseling, and Psychotherapy (Nova Science Publishers).
He is writing another book, co-authored with Biola professor John Coe, titled Christianity
and Psychology: Reclaiming the Self for the Spiritual Formation of the Church (InterVarsity
Press). He is also conducting several studies on spiritual transformation, focusing on
turning points in people’s spiritual growth.
Why this book? It gave me a deeper appreciation of the impact of early attachment relationships
on our development. Karen has a wonderful, engaging style, and what is unique about this
book is that he portrays the people behind the theorists — the personal experiences and context
of each theorist that are part of the very fabric of the theory. Because of this, you get a much better
handle on the theories themselves and how this impacts you personally because it’s not just
abstract jargon.
Recently Read: The Good Marriage by Judith Wallerstein, The Great Omission by Dallas Willard,
Infant Research and Adult Treatment by Beatrice Beebe and Frank Lachmann and re-read The Developing Mind by Daniel Siegel
Advice to Students: More than giving them advice, I try to create space for them to be where they are with God. I also try to help them understand
that spiritual growth is a messy, unpredictable process and that it is important to stay engaged with God and in community even when
things seem dry or stagnant — that God is working in ways they can’t yet see.
Fun Facts: My favorite place to read is the beach. I try to make it a priority to always be reading something. If I am reading for a project, then I try to
set time aside and get away from my office for an extended period of time so I can focus. Bc

20 BIOLA CONNECTIONS FALL ’06
The Biggest Threat
Many Christians are concerned about lawsuits that seek to remove
Judeo-Christian symbolism from the public sphere, such as Ten
Commandments displays in courthouses, crosses at war memorials,
and the national motto — “In God We Trust” — on U.S.
currency.
These court cases certainly raise legitimate issues. But many Christians
are unaware of a 16-year-old Supreme Court ruling that poses a far
greater threat to religious liberty.
Employment Division v. Smith
In 1990, the Supreme Court ruled, in Employment Division v. Smith, that
members of the Native American Church don’t have a constitutional right
to use Peyote, a hallucinogenic drug, as part of their religious ceremonies
if the law prohibits Peyote use generally.
This ruling may not seem like a significant threat to religious liberty,
since most religious groups don’t encourage drug use. Moreover, in 1994
Congress passed a federal law protecting the right of members of the
Native American Church to use Peyote. However, the Smith ruling
established a precedent that could ultimately curb the religious practices
of all religious groups.
Smith pertains to what is known as the “free exercise clause.” The
First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution contains two clauses that
guarantee freedom of religion: the “establishment clause” and the “free
exercise clause.” The establishment clause prohibits the government from
establishing an official religion while enforcing a separation between
church and state. This is the clause invoked by those who wish to remove
Judeo-Christian references from the public sphere. The free exercise
clause, on the other hand, guarantees the right of religious groups to
operate without government interference.
Although establishment clause cases raise important issues, they
don’t prevent a church or faith community from following its own
religious practices in its own domain. Those practices are protected by the
free exercise clause, which was at issue in the Smith case.
Before Smith, the Supreme Court held that the government
couldn’t prevent a religious practice — even if the practice violates a
generally applicable law — unless it had a “compelling interest.” An
example of when the government has a compelling interest is when it
has required Jehovah’s Witnesses to give blood transfusions to their
children to protect the children’s health and lives, even though their
religion prohibits blood transfusions. But, in the absence of a
compelling interest, religious groups were exempted from generally
applicable laws. For example, the Amish were exempted from a state
law requiring them to give up their home-based education in favor of
formal schooling until age 16.

BIOLA CONNECTIONS FALL ’06 ON MY HEART
to Religious Liberty
The Impending Threat
Smith, however, paved the way for generally applicable laws to be enforced
against a religious community even when harm to the community from
enforcement would outweigh the government’s interest. For example, a
legislature could now require churches to comply with employment laws
that prohibit discrimination on the basis of religion, gender and sexual
orientation — without regard to the impact on churches’ ability to practice
their religious beliefs.
Of course, legislatures can choose to make exceptions for
religious groups. That’s why, as it stands now, most religious
organizations are exempt from employment discrimination laws. But,
under Smith, such exemptions are no longer constitutionally required
under the First Amendment.
Consequently, the new rule shifted the power to protect religious
freedom, in large measure, from the judicial to the legislative branch of
government. And, while democratically elected legislatures are generally
effective in protecting the rights of the majority, they have a mixed record
when it comes to protecting the rights of the minority. Historically, courts
have done a better job of that.
The question then becomes: What happens when the legislatures
have majorities that are hostile to religion and decide not to
accommodate religious practice under generally applicable laws? For
example, what could a legislature require of an evangelical community
like Biola? Might a legislature dictate who is (or who is not) hired?
Who is admitted to the student body? What is taught in the classroom?
In response to such concerns about Smith, the U.S. Congress
enacted the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) in 1993, which
restored the pre-Smith protection for religious liberty. While the
Supreme Court has held that Congress exceeded its authority in
enacting RFRA as it applied to states, the Court recently upheld RFRA
as it applies to the federal government. Several states also have passed
similar statutes.
Although these federal and state RFRAs do currently protect
religious groups from generally applicable laws that burden them
today, the shift of power to ensure religious liberty from the judicial
branch to the legislative branch may pose a threat to religious freedom
in the future.
Michael H. Koby (’88)
is on the faculty of Washington University School of Law in St.
Louis, Mo., where he is the director of Trial and Advocacy
Programs. Among other courses, he teaches “Religion and the
Constitution.” At Biola, he earned a B.A. in intercultural studies. He can be
reached at koby@wulaw.wustl.edu.
Illustration by Joyce Hesselberth
21

22 STUDENT LIFE BIOLA CONNECTIONS FALL ’06
Student Contract
Behind the Scenes of the Nightline Interview
On May 26, ABC’s late-night news
program, Nightline, featured Biola
University, focusing specifically on our
community commitment to sexual abstinence
outside marriage. As the associate dean of
student affairs and community life, I was among
those interviewed by ABC correspondent Jake
Tapper for the segment that aired, titled “Inside
the College of Abstinence.”
Many people have asked me what I
thought of the segment. Overall, I thought it
was very positive in its portrayal of the Biola
community and our commitment to the
lifestyle values outlined in the student
contract. The segment captured a point I kept
coming back to during my interview with Jake
— the majority of Biola students don’t view the
contract negatively, but positively. They’ve
come to Biola freely and willingly because
they want to live a particular way, and they
want to be a part of a community that shares
their values. Those values include responsibility,
integrity, forgiveness and confession,
and submission to the instruction of
Scripture, which, of course, teaches that God
designed sexual relationships for marriage.
The four students featured in the
segment represented Biola well. Silas Cole,
for example, did a great job of expressing the
reasons for his personal commitment to
sexual abstinence, reasons I believe
represent the majority of students at Biola —
the idea that they want to give their future
wives or husbands everything about them, not
something that has been shared.
One of the questions Jake asked me
during the interview was if Biola “kicks out”
students when the contract is violated. Biola’s
standards and values attract a particular kind
of student. Therefore, when students do leave
Biola it’s through a mutual process of
agreement where they realize they don’t share
Biola’s values and acknowledge Biola isn’t the
best fit for them. The students, in so many
ways, are just normal, developing college
students who struggle with the same things
ABC News correspondent Jake Tapper was surprised to find that students view
the contract positively.
any college student may struggle with. The
difference with Biola students is they are
making choices and intentionally desire to
live a particular way with peers who have the
same desires.
When students are struggling with something,
like alcoholism or pornography, they
often will come forward on their own, asking
for help and accountability. They’ll say, “I
don’t want this to be a part of my life.” So we
help them. We get them into accountability
groups, or give them reflection projects to
work on, and encourage them to engage with
other people — whatever we can do to assist
them and support their efforts to live
consistently with their value system.
The Biola community is a laboratory of
sorts — a safe environment — where, for four
years, students get to work out their values in
their lives. Of course, they may not do it
perfectly, but they are seeking to become
certain kinds of people, which, ultimately, is
the goal of the contract. It’s not about signing
a “piece of paper,” but we see the paper as a
tool to help them achieve their goal.
Daniel Paschall
serves as Biola’s associate dean of student
affairs and community life.
Recommended book: A Hidden Wholeness
by Parker Palmer

In Print Event Calendar
books by biolans
The Search for Satisfaction:
Looking for Something New
Under the Sun,
Dr. David H. McKinley (M.Div. ’90),
W Publishing Group, May 2006;
McKinley guides readers to find the
secrets to a satisfied life by following Solomon’s
ultimate life search through an in-depth study of
the book of Ecclesiastes.
Two Gospels From One: A
Comprehensive Text-Critical
Analysis of the Synoptic
Gospels,
Dr. Matthew C. Williams (New
Testament professor), Kregel Academic
& Professional, March 2006; A major
work for professors, students and pastors interested
in the origins of the first three Gospels.
In Defense of Natural Theology:
A Post-Humean Assessment,
Contributions by Drs. Garrett J.
DeWeese, J.P. Moreland and R.
Douglas Geivett (philosophy professors
at Biola’s Talbot School of
Theology), InterVarsity Press, Nov. 2005; In
Defense of Natural Theology makes vigorous individual
and cumulative arguments that give fresh
perspective to David Hume’s attacks on efforts
to prove the existence of God from evidence in
the natural world.
The Resurrection of Jesus: John
Dominic Crossan and N.T.
Wright in Dialogue,
Contributions by Drs. William Lane
Craig and R. Douglas Geivett (philosophy
professors at Biola’s Talbot
School of Theology), Fortress Press, Jan. 2006;
The Resurrection of Jesus brings together two
leading lights in Jesus studies for a long-overdue
conversation with one another and with significant
scholars from other disciplines.
“In Print” features books by Biola alumni and faculty. Send submissions to:
Biola Connections, 13800 Biola Ave., La Mirada, CA 90639
White House: Confidential
(Revised and Expanded),
Co-authored by Austin Hill (M.A.
’99), Cumberland House Publishing,
Aug. 2006; Most Americans
believe that in the past our presidents
were smarter, more honest, and behaved
more like gentlemen than those we elect
today. White House: Confidential is a clear-eyed
look at America’s long line of presidents,
warts and all.
Bible Answers to Life’s Big
Questions: Conversations About
Faith in Plain Language,
Co-authored by Stan Jantz (M.A.,
’05), Harvest House Publishers,
Feb. 2006; Readers will appreciate
these questions and clear, biblical answers
that offer substance and sustenance for the
faith journey.
With One Voice: Singleness,
Dating and Marriage to the
Glory of God,
Co-authored and edited by Marni
“Maren” (Haugen, ’02) Chediak,
Christian Focus Publications, May
2006; Husband-and-wife team Alex and Marni
Chediak show that it is more important to
become a certain type of person than it is to find
a certain type of person.
Living a Milk-and-Honey Life:
Letting Go of What’s Holding
You Back,
Sharon Norris Elliott (’80), Beacon
Hill Press, March 2006; Learn how
to make the journey from bondage
(stressful relationships, problems with children,
financial struggles or sin) to deliverance
and enjoy the sweetness of a milk-andhoney
life.
BIOLA CONNECTIONS FALL ’06
October
Alumni Chapter Leaders Conference: Chapter
leaders are invited back to campus for a two-day
conference on leading alumni chapters, Oct. 6-7.
Hong Kong Alumni Event: President Cook and
Anna Belle will host a dinner for alumni in
Hong Kong, Oct. 28.
November
Midnight Madness: Join alumni and students
as they celebrate the start of basketball season,
on Nov. 12, at 11:30 p.m., in Chase Gymnasium.
December
Christmas Tree Lighting: Alumni and friends
are invited to join the campus community for
this annual Christmas tradition, on Dec. 1, at
6:30 p.m., in front of Crowell Hall.
Please RSVP for events.
To RSVP or for more information, call (562) 903-4729
or e-mail alumni@biola.edu. Visit the alumni Web site
at: www.biola.edu/alumni.
23

24 CONTINUING ED BIOLA CONNECTIONS FALL ’06
Why Do Bad Movies Get Made?
Despite its star power and big budget, Sony Pictures’ Gigli flopped at the box office.
I’ve often been asked by students how bad
movies get made. Why, for example, does a
movie with huge potential — an A-list cast,
large budget and good concept — flop?
To answer that question, we need to look at
corporate culture. In Hollywood, a studio
executive is under enormous pressure to make
money for the studio and its shareholders. One
of the ways that happens is when the executive
can find a major star, producer or director who is
attracted enough to a studio to make a deal
committing several feature films to that studio.
M. Night Shyamalan, for example, made three
successful films, The Sixth Sense, Signs and The
Village. Because of his signature style of
filmmaking, Walt Disney Studios dangled a nice
financial carrot to keep him on their roster. Yet,
Disney, in a rare move, severed ties with
Shyamalan when it passed on producing his
most recent film, Lady in the Water. In reply,
Shyamalan commented that, “Disney no longer
valued individualism.” However, Lady in the
Water did poorly its first weekend in release,
which gave Disney executives some boasting
rights. Now, Warner Brothers, who courted
Shyamalan, will have first crack at his other
films because they are betting on him to succeed
down the road.
The same thing happens with actors. A
studio executive wants to make a deal with an
actor and — instead of just signing that actor to
one picture — will give him or her a production
office on the lot and a three-picture deal. Since
that actor owes the studio films, the actor may
commit to a script simply to fulfill the contract.
Another reason bad films get made is
because someone, who may not necessarily be
qualified for specific work, happens to be in the
right place at the right time. Many years ago,
over a weekend, I was helping a president of
well-known production company move
furniture to his new offices. When he found out
I had a graduate degree in film, I was named vice
president and head of development for the firm.
Did a Biola professor impact your life? Tell BC about it, and we may share your story in an upcoming issue. connections@biola.edu
I started Monday with a private office on the top
floor of a Hollywood highrise! In the same way,
people less qualified have risen to high ranks in
the industry simply because they were
positioned at the magical place at the right
moment. I have seen numerous deals like that
go through, where people get brought into a
project because they were at a lunch meeting
with someone who recommended them — no
questions asked about their credentials. (A good
used-car salesman with very little talent can
make it.) Given this, it’s easy to see how a bad
film could get made.
Generally speaking, it is said that a good
script is needed to make a good movie. Yet,
many studio executives do not read the scripts
submitted, so they depend on notes from script
readers — usually college-age interns — who jot
down the good and bad points of a screenplay.
The studio executive then talks to the director or
producer as if he or she has read the screenplay
but, in reality, has only relied on the “Cliff
Notes” made by an intern. When a studio gets
serious about a project, usually the producers
and studio executives spend time reading the
scripts to make a final decision.
Sometimes, when celebrities want to make
big purchases — perhaps buy a beautiful villa in
Tuscany or a private airplane — they will have
their agents call studios and let them know of
their availability to star in, say, Tidy Bowl Man.
Their big advances will arrive shortly. They will
buy their villas. They will make the films. The
films will flop, but by then they are eating olives
from their estate and all is well in their world.
Michael Gonzales
(Ph.D. ’03)
teaches film at Biola. He has a graduate
degree in screenwriting from the
University of Southern California and
a doctorate in intercultural education from Biola.
Gonzales taught at USC as a production professor
for 10 years. He has sold three scripts and optioned
two and is currently directing television commercials
and producing television specials.

In July, I was privileged to be part of a factfinding
delegation of American evangelical
academics and journalists invited by
the Moroccan government to visit its
country for one week. Our six-member delegation
was organized by the Moroccan-American
Center for Policy and led by Karen Prior from
Liberty University; and included Tim Saxon,
also from Liberty; Tanie Guy with the National
Clergy Council; and Mindy and Nat Belz of World
Magazine. We had an intensive week of meetings
in Rabat, Fez, Casablanca and Dakhla, in the
Western Sahara.
On May 16, 2003, local youths, inspired by
al-Qaeda, bombed a Casablanca neighborhood.
This home-grown extremism so shocked their
nation, which prides itself in its historic ethnic
and religious tolerance, that Morocco began to
examine the role of Islam in its country. The
object of our visit was to learn more about the
issues facing Moroccan citizens as they democratize.
Our high-level meetings with representatives
from every segment of Moroccan society
— religious authorities, government officials,
female entrepreneurs, journalists, politicians,
youth who have organized programs to fight
against Islamic extremism in their neighborhoods,
and a new group of female scholars,
known as the “alimat” (who, for the first time,
BIOLA CONNECTIONS FALL ’06
A Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience
are ranked at the same level of expertise as the
male “ulama”) — were unforgettable.
Morocco is working intentionally to develop
moderate Islamic policies for a civil society
anchored in morality, modeled on the Maliki
tradition — one of four schools of religious law
within Sunni Islam — as opposed to the violent
Salafi tradition. Morocco considers itself akin to
America, where religious values shaped our
ideas about citizenship and government.
Morocco’s long-term western orientation has
made her a staunch, though underappreciated,
ally in the war against terror.
It is essential for evangelicals to understand
Morocco’s political and religious history
as we develop deeper and broader relationships
based upon our common concerns about the
pernicious effects of atheism and radical Islam
on our societies. In the future, I hope that my
students and I will have further opportunities to
study Morocco’s efforts to ground citizenship in
faith-based morality.
Judith Mendelsohn
Rood, Ph.D.,
serves as an associate professor of history
and Middle Eastern studies at Biola.
She has a doctorate from the University of Chicago in
Modern Middle Eastern History.
Judith Rood (far right) took part in an American fact-finding delegation that visited Morocco in July.
FACULTY NEWS
Faculty
Highlights
Dr. Aaron Kleist [English] was awarded
$100,000, in June, by the National
Endowment for the Humanities to lead a
team of international scholars in editing
and publishing Anglo-Saxon homilies
written by Aelfric of Eynsham, an abbot. The project is
estimated to take three years. This is Kleist’s second
National Endowment for the Humanities award.
Dr. Ivannia Soto-Hinman [education]
received the “Early Career Award” from
the American Educational Research
Association, given to scholars with a
promising career future. The award
included a stipend to help her make a book out of her
doctoral dissertation, titled “Toward a Balanced
Literacy Approach: Literacy Approaches for Struggling
English Learners.” Ivannia also is working with two
major grants that were awarded by the Haynes
Foundation and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
to improve the instruction at low socioeconomic
schools in Southern California.
Dr. Greg Peters [Torrey Honors Institute]
visited the Vatican Library in Rome, May
30-31, where he consulted a 13th century
manuscript written by Peter of Damascus,
an obscure 12th century Byzantine
Christian. Peters’ research — funded by a “Research
and Development Grant” from Biola — focused on
investigating the dates of Peter of Damascus’ lifespan.
His most recent article, titled “Recovering a Lost
Spiritual Theologian: Peter of Damascus and the
Philokalia,” was published in St. Vladimir’s Theological
Quarterly in 2005 (vol. 49, no. 4).
David Washburn [music] was a featured
trumpet soloist May 26 and May 28 at
Walt Disney Concert Hall, performing
Bach’s “2nd Brandenburg Concerto” with
members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
After Washburn’s performance, Alan Rich, a
music critic for L.A. Weekly, described him as a “first
among equals, having to face Bach’s cruel demands
for our enjoyment.” In December 2005, he performed
the same concerto in New York City’s Alice Tully Hall
with the New York Chamber Music Society of Lincoln
Center. The society has invited David to give an encore
performance at the Lincoln Center in December.
Dr. George Alexander [missions and
intercultural studies] received an award
of appreciation from the Islamic
Education Center in Walnut, Calif., on
June 16, for his commitment to building
bridges between Biola and the Muslim community.
Alexander regularly takes his students to the center so
they can learn more about Islam and interact with
Muslim people.
25

DEVELOPMENT
SECTION
26 BIOLA CONNECTIONS ❄ FALL FALL ’05 ’06
Releasing Your Grip
Iread an interesting prayer the other day in
A.W. Tozer’s book The Pursuit of God. In
the second chapter titled, “The Blessedness
of Possessing Nothing,” Tozer
concluded:
Father, I want to know Thee, but my cowardly heart
fears to give up its toys. I cannot part with them
without inward bleeding, and I do not try to hide
from Thee the terror of the parting. I come trembling,
but I do come. Please root from my heart all those
things which I have cherished so long and which
have become a very part of my living self, so that
Thou mayest enter and dwell there without a rival.
Then shalt Thou make the place of Thy feet glorious.
Then shall my heart have no need of the sun to shine
in it, for Thyself wilt be the light of it, and there shall
be no night there.
As I pondered these words, I was reminded of
the struggle that so many believers face with
regard to their possessions. We hold so tightly to
the things in life that ultimately have little
eternal value — our careers, our money, our
retirement accounts — all of our “stuff.”
Solomon, in Proverbs 3:5-8, reminds us that
our trust — our security — is to be in God, not in
our material possessions.
One of the core principles guiding Biola’s
fundraising efforts is the acknowledgement that
“God owns it all.” It is God who has provided us
with all of our time, wealth, possessions and
resources. These resources are His gifts to us —
entrusted into our care to be used to accomplish
wonderful things for His Kingdom.
For many months I have had the distinct
privilege of working with one of Biola’s donor
families who has learned how to put these
biblical truths into practice. They understand
that God is the ultimate owner of all things, and
they want to make sure that the things they hold
dear are being leveraged for the Kingdom.
This family, who has asked to remain
anonymous, has held a choice piece of
commercial property in Southern California for
nearly 50 years. The property, comprised of
numerous office buildings, restaurants and
retail stores, was dedicated by the family many
years ago to be used by God for His glory.
Recently, the owners decided it was time to
evaluate the future of their business and set in
place a succession plan for when they are both
gone. They believed they needed a living trust
and decided to call Biola for help.
As the estate plan began to take shape,
there was a profound moment when the
donors made the following statement:
“Almost half a century ago, we built this
complex and dedicated it to the Lord. We’ve
faithfully run this business every day since,
and we want to make sure that, when God
calls us home, the stewardship of this
property is in the hands of an organization
that will use it to further the Kingdom of God.
We are so thrilled to leave this business in the
very capable hands of Biola University.” With
tears of joy in their eyes, this family was
releasing their grip on a multi-million dollar
investment that for decades consumed most
of their time and energy. What an amazing
act of obedience to God!
I don’t know where this issue of Biola
Connections finds you with regard to your
personal stewardship. Are you holding on tight
to the things that God has entrusted to your
care? God’s Word calls us to release our grip to
share our material blessings with those who
will use them to further His work. Biola is
forever grateful for those of you who, like these
donors, give so freely from the bounty of His
provision. Our prayer is that God’s people will
continue to invest generously in the mission
and vision of Biola University as we together
impact the world for Jesus Christ.
Adam Morris (’90, M.A.
’97, Ph.D.’02)
Senior Director of Stewardship and
Resource Development
(adam.morris@biola.edu)

Warren Buffett, the
Rockefellers and You
I
n June, Warren Buffett announced that $31
billion of his personal wealth is destined
for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
and its charitable work around the world.
Within a month, a senior member of the
Rockefeller family issued a statement regarding
a sizable charitable gift from their family estate.
These contributions will certainly go a long way
in advancing the work of these charities.
The National Council of Planned Giving
predicts that within 15 years, over $25 trillion
(count the zeroes) will be transferred to a
younger generation through wills or living
trusts. More than half of this wealth is held in
appreciated real estate.
It is likely that you will be either on the
giving or receiving end of this transfer. Ron
Blomberg, the director of Legacy Planning
Services at Biola, suggests the following steps
to affect a smooth and meaningful transfer of
an estate. Biola can also help make sure your
financial assets support charitable causes you
believe in, like the ministry of Biola.
1. Make a Plan
Over 70 percent of Americans do not have an
up-to-date will or estate plan. Biola’s Planning
BIOLA CONNECTIONS FALL ’06 DEVELOPMENT 27
Team provides a template for the planning
process. Every home needs one, and Biola offers
it to you without cost.
2. Review Your Plan
One family recently reviewed their living
trust with Biola and made some minor adjustments.
As time passed, they realized that
their financial situation had changed, and
that their children’s needs had been redefined.
Their charitable interests can now be
more specifically defined in the future distribution
of their estate. Biola has a staff of five
professionals whose mission is to advance
God’s work by assisting Biola benefactors in
personalized planning that helps you care for
those you love and makes an eternal impact
on the world for the Lord Jesus Christ.
3. Talk About Your Plan
Parents should take the initiative to convey the
provisions of their will to their children.
For assistance with your estate planning,
contact Biola’s Planning Team by calling
(800) 445-4749 or e-mailing them at
estate.planning@biola.edu.
On June 26, Warren Buffet (R), chairman of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., announced at a press
conference that he would sign over $31 billion to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
DIMA GAVRYSH /GAMMA
Crowell School of
Business Update
Summer construction of the Crowell
School of Business building provided
great momentum toward its on-time completion
in February. What was only a
foundation and framework a few short months
ago is now taking on the look of a wonderful,
new, campus resource. As students returned to
campus, they were greeted with a facility that
will soon be state of the art in technology, moving
the Crowell School of Business toward a toptier
business school ranking.
Donations toward the project’s budget of
$14,800,000 total over $12,500,000, with more than
$4,300,000 received in the 2005-2006 fiscal year.
The remaining $2,300,000 is being sought from
interested alumni and friends.
Our thanks to the many of you who have
already given to the Crowell School of Business
building, through the mail or by personal contact.
Your partnership with Biola to make this building
possible will benefit future generations of
Christian businessmen and women, seeking to
do business as ministry, with biblical ethics and
morality not taught in many places today. And,
thanks again for your consideration of how you
might help with the remaining need by year-end.
To view live progress of the construction, visit
the Biola Web Cam at: www.biola.edu/business
www.biola.edu/donations
562-906-4523

28 MISC.
BIOLA CONNECTIONS FALL ’06
Selecting a President
President Clyde Cook announced in May that he will retire on June 30, 2007.
In May, after accepting President Clyde
Cook’s retirement, Biola University’s
Board of Trustees formed a search committee
to find Biola’s eighth president.
Just writing these words makes me take a deep
breath. For 25 years, Dr. Cook has guided Biola
to unprecedented heights. Enrollment has more
than doubled. New buildings are popping up on
campus, one after another (two are in progress
right now). And, all the while, he kept Biola
faithful to its historical, evangelical roots.
So what kind of president can Biolans
expect when Dr. Cook retires on June 30? Well,
the process is only just beginning, but the
Presidential Search Team (PST) — as the search
committee is officially called — already has a
good start.
The PST, which consists entirely of
Trustees, includes alumni, parents, donors and
past board chairs. There are also members who
have served on presidential search committees
for Christian organizations.
In June, the PST met to select a consulting
firm to help with the search. People Management
International was chosen for its track
record in presidential searches. The PST will be
working closely with People Management partners,
Rob Stevenson and Tommy Thomas, both
Christians, who have led 12 Christian college
presidential searches.
Some governing principles will guide the
search process. It will be an open process,
which means the PST will solicit advice and
counsel from Biola’s key constituent groups.
(A Search Advisory Committee comprised of
faculty and other Biolans will also be formed.)
Applicants’ names will be kept confidential
during the process in order to attract top-tier
candidates. And the PST will be careful to
maintain stability throughout the process to
help ensure a smooth transition.
According to PST chair, Stan Jantz (M.A.
’05), Dr. Cook gave the team ample time to complete
a national search for his successor. He also
admired the president’s timing in announcing
his retirement.
“He could have waited until after Biola’s
100th year in 2008, but he decided to serve
Biola’s future by giving his successor the
momentum of coming on board on the cusp of
that momentous event,” Jantz said.
The PST hopes to select a candidate before
Dr. Cook’s June retirement. But several challenges
await them. First are the conceptual challenges.
The PST needs to convey Biola’s goals and vision,
not only to potential candidates, but also to alumni,
faculty, staff and supporters, who will help the
PST identify potential candidates. At first glance,
this doesn’t sound too difficult. But when you look
at the complexities of Biola’s vision to be a global
center for Christian thought and spiritual renewal
in a decidedly conservative evangelical context,
you begin to see the unique challenges of clearly
communicating this vision to those outside.
And then there’s the interview process
itself. Those familiar with the faculty hiring
process at Biola know how stringent it is (see
“What Does It Take To Teach Here?” Fall 2003).
Doctrinal inquiries, educational philosophy
statements and rigorous interviews will take
ample time to complete and that’s after the PST
sifts through what Jantz expects to be a large
number of applicants.
Finally, how do you begin to replace Dr.
Cook, who Jantz refers to as “the dean of Christian
college presidents”? You don’t. Dr. Cook has been
at the center of Biola’s ethos for a quarter century
and that doesn’t include his 20-plus years of service
as a Biola dean, faculty member, trustee and
student. His wit, charm and pastoral nature
uniquely qualified him to be Biola’s president
these past 25 years. But each new era has its own
special needs. And this is the challenge awaiting
the PST in the coming months.
“I think I can speak for all the members of
the Presidential Search Team when I say that we
are humbled by the enormity of the task at
hand,” Jantz said. “This is an absolutely significant
time in Biola’s history.”
Please pray for the PST — that God will help
them find the president Biola needs to guide the
University into its second century. And thank
you, Dr. Cook, for your faithfulness in helping us
get this far.
Rob Westervelt
(M.A.’97), editor
Recommended book: Making Sense of
It All: Pascal and the Meaning of Life
by Thomas V. Morris

B I O L A · S C H O L A R S H I P · F U N D
Sarah Rickard (’06)
Support students like these. Send your donations to:
1 · 800· 632· 4652
Jessica O’Neill (’05)
Biola University
Post Office Box 3760
La Mirada, CA 90637-3760
www.biola.edu/donations
Enabling
students to
study truth,
experience life
transformation
in Christ, and
become a
testimony
These graduates thank you for supporting the Biola Scholarship Fund!
Holly McMahon (’05) Kate Harrington (’06) Aaron Warkentin (’06)

30 ALUMNI FILES BIOLA CONNECTIONS FALL ’06
Wish You Were There
In July, the Alumni and Friends Department
hosted our first Alaskan Cruise
aboard Holland/America’s msWesterdam
with 75 of our alumni, parents and friends.
The trip was an incredible opportunity to see
what God has created and to learn from apologist,
Biola lecturer and radio personality
Greg Koukl. Our very own President Clyde
Cook served as host and master of ceremonies
for the week. The trip, coordinated through
Inspiration Cruises, had the theme of “Travel
With Purpose.”
One of the highlights of the cruise was the
amazing “Fourth of July show” of the Hubbard
Glacier. This unique display of ice movement
and “white thunder,” as the local Natives call it,
rocked the ship (literally) as 100-ton ice blocks
broke from the glacier, crashing into the water at
Russell Fjord. It was reported by the cruise line
that the glacier activity was at the highest level
ever experienced by the ship. God can put on an
incredible show!
Throughout the week, Greg Koukl’s teaching
challenged all of us to not be afraid to share
our faith as ambassadors for Christ. So often, the
fear of not having all of the answers can paralyze
Christians, who know they should share their
faith, but don’t really know how. (See “Sharing
Your Faith,” Winter 2004). The week’s teaching dangers of relativism.
helped us all learn how to ask the right questions
of those we are sharing with, to study Scripture
in context, and to understand the inherent
‘I was reminded
throughout the
week of what a
special place
Biola University is’
I was reminded throughout the week of
what a special place Biola University is and how
God has provided our students with some of the
best Bible teaching and life preparation
possible. No matter what degree our students
complete, they are leaving Biola prepared to
defend and extend their faith to others who may
not know the Creator and Sustainer of all we saw
on this incredible cruise.
If you missed Alaska, we are taking
reservations for a Jan. 19 to Jan. 21 trip to Mexico
in cooperation with Azusa Pacific University and
Fresno Pacific University, and we are working
on plans for an early 2008, 100th anniversary
alumni and friends Caribbean Cruise. Also, I’ve
had several calls from alumni who are interested
in reunions aboard ship with former classmates.
Want your questions answered? Rick would like to hear from you (rick.bee@biola.edu).
Rick Bee (center) pictured in front of Hubbard Glacier with [L to R]: Ray and Lynn Walkowski
(past Biola parents), Julie (Hanna, ’80) Bee, and Becky (Robinson, ’91) and Brian (’92) Shook.
If you are interested in helping put together a
themed reunion cruise with your Biola friends,
let the alumni department know.
Please keep in your thoughts and prayers
the family of Eva and Charles (’86) Covington.
Eva is a long-time employee of Biola, having
served the University Board and the President’s
Office, and Charles a pastor and Biola graduate.
Eva and Charles are also former Biola parents.
The Covingtons attended the Alaskan cruise and
experienced God’s wonder and glory through
His creation. Charles passed away in Seattle,
having experienced first hand the majesty of the
Maker, and he’s now experiencing God’s
wonder face to face.
Rick Bee (’79,
M.A.’90, Ph.D.’01)
Senior Director of Alumni and
Friend Development

BIOLA CONNECTIONS FALL ’06 ALUMNI NEWS
Alumni Events Time to Renew
Palm Springs, Calif.
On March 4, alumni enjoyed a catered meal at the
home of Henry and Beverly (’47) Richter. This
annual event has become a long-standing tradition,
taking place over the past 10 years. Many of
the alumni who attended graduated more than 50
years ago. President Clyde Cook (’57, M.Div. ’60,
Th.M. ’62) and his wife, Anna Belle (’55), attended
the event and enjoyed catching up with some of
their former classmates.
Plano, Texas
On March 28, over 50 alumni and their friends
from the Plano, Texas, chapter met at Stonebriar
Community Church in Frisco, Texas, pastored by
Chuck Swindoll. They enjoyed visiting with
President Cook and his wife, Anna Belle, who
attended the event. They also received an update
about the recent developments at Biola. A special
thanks goes to chapter leaders, Cliff Weaver (’70),
Amy (Scheevel, ’92) Walz and Sid Goodloe (’95).
Boise, Idaho
On May 20, Boise alumni had a potluck at
the home of Mark and Kelley (Clark, ’95)
VanderSys. The group discussed plans for
the incoming student send-off event they
hosted on July 27 (details of the send-off
event were not available as of Biola
Connections press time).
Class of 1986 Reunion
On June 24, the class of 1986 celebrated their
20-year reunion at Biola. Families enjoyed a
barbecue lunch, a bounce house for the kids,
and a special comedy performance by their
very own classmates, David O’Shaughnessy
(’86) (formerly David Ohayon) and Adam
Christing (’86) (formerly Mark Browning). As
students, David and Adam often performed in
chapel and became familiar faces to their
classmates. The duo brought back their act for
this special occasion.
Palm Springs, Calif. Boise, Idaho
Plano, Tex. 1986 Reunion
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to be eligible for membership
31

32 ALUMNI NEWS BIOLA CONNECTIONS FALL ’06
Where Are They Now?
Counseling Clergy
Dr. Steven Cappa (M.A.
’90, Psy.D. ’94) serves as
the clinical director of
Marble Retreat, a 32year-old,interdenominational
counseling ministry
for clergy, nestled in
the Western Colorado
Rockies. The ministry was
born out of the conviction that pastors and others
in Christian service have extreme job
demands that can lead to burnout. They can be
so busy caring for others that they don’t receive
care for themselves. “Over time and with unhealthy
coping skills, this can lead to relational,
emotional and spiritual disablement in life,”
Steve said. At Marble Retreat, over 3,000 church
leaders from around the world have received
Christ-centered, brief, intensive counseling,
according to Steve. Recently, Marble Retreat
expanded its services to include lay Christians.
Steve’s wife, Patti, serves as the ministry’s executive
director, and the Cappas have two grown
sons, Matt and Will, and one still at home, Dave
(15). www.marbleretreat.org
Hobnobbing
With Authors
Laura Adams (’05)
has served as a
publicity assistant
for Warner Books,
a division of Hachette
Book Group
USA, in New York,
since Nov. 2005. The previous summer Laura
worked as a marketing intern for Warner Faith,
Warner Books’ Christian division, in Nashville,
Tenn. Her current job is to promote authors to
the media. She said she has fun escorting them
to their interviews, which have included televisions
shows like MSNBC’s Rita Cosby Live &
Direct and Comedy Central’s Colbert Report,
where she met Stephen Colbert. “Publishing has
such potential to influence culture by producing
books that make people think about important
issues,” Laura said, adding that, during her conversations
with authors, she encourages them to
think about Christianity. Laura lives in
Manhattan and attends Redeemer Presbyterian
Church. At Biola, she earned a B.A. in journalism
with an emphasis in public relations. lauraadamsnyc@gmail.com
Leading the
‘Evangelical Church
of West Africa’
Rev. Bello Melton Misal
(M.Div. ’89, Th.M. ’90)
serves as vice president for
the Evangelical Church of
West Africa, a denomination
of six million members
with headquarters in
Nigeria. Bello has served the denomination
for 42 years as a missionary, teacher and
administrator and was appointed vice president
four years ago. He is helping the denomination
start a Christian university, which, he
said, will be similar to Biola. “It is hoped that
university graduates will impact the church
and our corrupted society in Nigeria and
beyond,” he said. Challenges his denomination
faces include growing hostility against
Christians from Muslims. After satirical cartoons
of Muhammad were published in
Denmark, Muslims in Nigeria protested by
burning churches and the houses of church
leaders, including the house of Bello’s brother.
Bello requests prayer. He and his wife,
Almatu, have eight children and seven grandchildren.
misalbello@yahoo.com
Developing ‘Well-Ordered’ Souls
Dale (M.A. ’02) and Jonalyn Grace (M.A. ’03)
Fincher started “Soulation,” in July 2005, a
nonprofit organization based in Southern
California that seeks to help people become
“appropriately human.” They focus on “wellordered
souls” formed intellectually, emotionally
and spiritually. Their tools are speaking,
performing and writing on themes related to
apologetics and spiritual formation. “We’re
trying to focus on the steadfast floorboards of
our faith and the qualitatively better life that
Christ offers,” they said. They often speak as a
husband-and-wife team at churches, schools
and conferences to secular and Christian
audiences. Both Dale and Jonalyn earned
master’s degrees in philosophy at Biola’s
Talbot School of Theology. Jonalyn’s book,
Ruby Slippers: How the Soul of a Woman Brings
Her Home (Zondervan), is due out next
February. www.soulation.org
Helping People
Worship
Dan Radmacher (’90,
M.Div. ’04) is a singer/
songwriter and serves as
the worship leader for
Christ Church Pasadena in
Southern California. His
passion is to help people
make a vital heart connection
with God in worship. In February, Dan’s
second worship CD was released, titled “In
the Space Between.” He said, “Living one’s
life means always dealing with the tension of
living in the space between one reality and
another ... and that creates the peculiar
dilemma of living with uncertainty and hope,
despair and ecstasy, longing and fulfillment
superimposed on one another.” While at
Biola, he earned a bachelor’s degree in vocal
performance and a master’s of divinity,
receiving the Zondervan Outstanding Thesis
award for his work on worship and postmodernity.
More information, including
contact details, is available at his Web site.
www.danradmacher.com
“Ring, Ring.” It’s Biola Connections. We surprised these alumni with a phone call. Who knows, you may be the next alumnus to be featured in “Where Are They Now?”

Casting ‘Fortune’ Hunters
Cassandra Thompson (’04) travels the country
in search of contestants for Wheel of Fortune.
The television game show is currently in its 24th
year (that’s as long as Cassandra’s been alive!).
Biola Connections asked her how she got the
job and if she’d give us an insider’s look at this
American institution.
During my senior year, I interned with Ryan
Seacrest’s television talk show on FOX, which
was later canceled. The publicist there, John,
knew I was looking for a job. I didn’t know, but
he sent my resume to Wheel of Fortune because
he knew they had an opening. So, one day, I got
a random call from Wheel of Fortune saying,
“We’d really like you to come in for an interview.”
I jumped at their offer to become a
marketing assistant.
I’ve been contestant coordinator since January.
There are four of us who travel together
to auditions. It’s fun to meet people from all
walks of life.
To get invited to an audition, you have to
attend a Wheelmobile event or fill out an
application online (www.wheeloffortune.com).
The Wheelmobile, a big bus, is a traveling
version of the game. They just held an event in
Dallas, Texas, and 10,000 people showed up.
Everyone fills out applications, which are drawn
at random, allowing people to compete and
participate in a brief interview. Later, we — the
contestant coordinators — select people and
invite them to an audition.
During an audition, we have between 40 and
100 people in a room who compete with puzzles.
We’re looking for people who have a good balance
of excitement and focus. We call it “juice.”
Some people are excited and fun, but they have
no focus. They call a “T” when the “T” is already
up on the board. And other people are focused,
but they show no excitement.
A lot of older people and families watch
Wheel because there is so little television the
whole family can watch together. I have a lot of
BIOLA CONNECTIONS FALL ’06 BIOLANS UP CLOSE 33
young moms tell me, “My kid learned how to
spell from watching Wheel of Fortune.”
Sometimes, professional gamers try to get
on the show. There’s a whole culture out there
I never knew about — of people who go from
game show to game show. Our rule is that you
have to wait a year before doing another one.
In the bonus round alone, someone can win
$100,000. The highest amount we’ve ever had
anyone win is $146,529.
My faith has influenced my conversations
with co-workers. I’ve gone to lunch with them
and, once, we talked an hour and a half about our
beliefs. Some people think that would become
argumentative, but people really want to know
what you believe.
Business ethics is, hands down, the best
class I took at Biola because it is about the
complete integration of your faith and your
work. Every now and then, an ethical issue arises
when we’re traveling and I’ll have to decide,
“Is it a better witness for me to stay with this
group of people right now, or is it better for me
to go back to my hotel room?”
The show goes on the road three times a year,
which includes about 100 people. It’s fun
because about 20 of us will be on the plane at the
same time. It’s such a diverse group that other
people look at us like, “How do all these people
know each other?”
Pat and Vanna are both really nice people.
I’m not just saying that. I interact with Pat a lot
when we go over pronunciation on the cards he
uses to introduce contestants. He’ll talk and joke
with us.
Watching people win $100,000 is the most
fun thing I’ve ever seen. It’s exciting to watch on
TV, but even more so in person because I spent
the whole day with that contestant.
Cassandra Thompson At A Glance
Thomas Fluharty
Home: Santa Monica, Calif.
Education: B.A. in business
management, Biola
Favorite Fiction Book: Pride and
Prejudice by Jane Austen
Fun Fact: Cassandra interned
with Ryan Seacrest on his, now
cancelled, television talk
show, “On-Air with Ryan
Seacrest” (Fox).

&
34 NEWS NOTES BIOLA CONNECTIONS FALL ’06
News & Notes
1930s
Minda S. Graff (’36) has been living at the
Veterans Home of California since 1990. On
July 7, she celebrated her 90th birthday. Her
two years at Biola introduced her to Africa
Inland Mission. After five more years earning
her B.S. in nursing from the University of
California, San Francisco, she became a
candidate for missionary service in Kenya. Not
being able to raise sufficient support during
World War II, she nursed at hospitals, a county
health department, and as a Navy nurse
stationed at Oakland, Calif., and Samson, N.Y.
In 1948, she sailed for Africa, serving as a nurse
at Rift Valley Academy, a boarding school for
missionary children. She also set up a nursing
program for the high school, taught high school
sciences and other subjects, did office work,
dormitory supervision, and assisted Sunday
School teachers with their lessons. In 1963,
Minda returned to Berkeley, Calif., after her
father died, to help her mother and sister. She
taught a nursing course at Merritt College in
Oakland, Calif., for 16 years. She has also
worked with Child Evangelism Fellowship.
1950s
Marjorie (Lamm, ’54) and Clyde Worley
recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.
Both are retired from Pennsylvania
College of Technology. Clyde pastors Hope of
Glory Bible Church in Muncy, Pa. They have five
married children, 16 grandchildren and one
great-granddaughter.
1970s
(Martha) Lynn Landweer (’75) completed a
Ph.D. in sociolinguistics (by supervised
research) at the University of Essex, Colchester,
England, on June 9. She specialized in issues of
language maintenance and shift in Melanesia,
specifically in Papua New Guinea. Lynn said,
“It’s been a long road since I tripped up the steps
to the stage to collect my Biola bachelor’s degree
in 1975, but the Lord has been with me each step
of the way. Praise Him.”
Fran Seiford (’79) reports that she recently
returned from a wonderful trip to Kenya and
visited with two Biola alumni friends: Jeannie
(Pontier, ’79) Morse and Debbie (Danielson,
’79) Nimigan. Jeannie and her family have
ministered in Mombasa with Africa Inland
Mission International for the past 18 years.
Debbie and her family from Canada were
filling in for a few months teaching art at Rift
Valley Academy. Both families, their kids and
Fran spent a weekend together at a safari
lodge in Tsavo National Park, a game sanctuary.
Fran was also able to visit separately at
Rift Valley Academy and the Mombasa area.
fran@stampendous.com
Charlie (’78) and Mary Cook joined their
extended family during the summer of 2005 for
a vacation to Maui to celebrate family milestones,
including the 80th birthday of Charlie’s
father and the 50th anniversary of his father and
mother, Richard (’52) and JoAnn Cook. They
also celebrated the 20th anniversary of Charlie’s
brother and his wife, Ken (’81) and Carolie
Cook; and they celebrated birthdays in the
family of his sister, Connie (Cook ’83) Milks.
Charlie works for Delta Air Lines as a flight
attendant. cook3566@bellsouth.net
1980s
Marcy Porter (’85) recently graduated from the
University of La Verne with a master’s in school
counseling and “Pupil Personnel Services
Credential.” She is now a counselor at Santa
Barbara High School in California. She attends
Oaks Bible Church in Santa Barbara.
Bruce (M.A. ’86) and Karen (Duhn, ’80) Bauer
live in the high desert north of Los Angeles with
their three children. Their daughter, Heather,
will be attending Biola in 2007. Bruce recently
received a doctorate in biblical studies and
serves in leadership to seniors at their church.
Karen teaches piano and plays viola in a
community orchestra.
1990s
Christina Lando (’99) is working with
orphans and children-at-risk through SEND
International in Sofia, Bulgaria. She said,
“My love for orphans started at Biola!”
Christina would love to hear from Biolans.
christinalando@yahoo.com
2000s
Tami Miller (’03) recently graduated from
Azusa Pacific University with a master’s degree
in clinical psychology. She is also working at
Genesis Counseling Service in San Bernardino,
Calif., as a marriage and family therapist
trainee, where she will continue working toward
state licensure. She credits Biola with her
spiritual foundation and her love for learning.
William Casey (Esquibel) Wells (’06) was
recently accepted to the University of Southern
California for a dual master’s degree in business
administration and real estate development.
william.casey.wells@gmail.com
Marriages
Brad Traywick (’91) married Rachael Smith in
a beachside ceremony on the island of Kauai,
Hawaii, on Jan. 10, 2006. Following a threeweek
honeymoon to the island of Sicily, Italy,
the couple now lives in Lihue, Kauai, Hawaii.
Brad and Rachael are employed in the real
estate industry and enjoy travel — both
worldwide and domestic — where Brad can
discover new beaches and breaks to continue
his lifelong passion of surfing.
Tommy Larson (‘95) married Keri Payne on
May 6 in Nashville, Tenn. Biolans in the
wedding included best man Timmy Larson
(’03), attendants Trevor Kientz (’96), Kevin
Bailey (’05), Julie (Larson, ’92) Kremer and
Amy (Larson, ’98) Spence. The ceremony
was conducted by Rev. James Larson (M.Div.
’74), father of the groom. Tommy works for
Rock Harbor Church, and Keri is a session
singer. They live in Yorba Linda, Calif.
tml_00@yahoo.com
Jennifer Kang (’00) and Steven Moon were
married on July 2, 2005, in Bel Air, Calif.
Jennifer recently received her doctorate in
education from the University of Southern
California. She works as a district literacy
coordinator and lives in Playa Vista, Calif.

Akiko (Takamatsu, ’00) married Shunsuke
Iinuma on June 19, 2004. Biolans in the
wedding included Yoshiko (Yamaguchi, ’99)
Hashimoto, Keiko (Nakajima, M.A. ’97)
Mori, and Maki Kano (M.A. ’02). Akiko
teaches piano at Christian Academy in Japan.
aiinuma@caj.or.jp
Karen Boscia (’00) was married to James
Seward on May 13 in Wheaton, Ill. Biolans in the
wedding were: Jill (Harrell, ’00) Marquez, Sarah
Nugent (’01) and Karen (Chouinard, ’00) Lowe.
James is a pastor at College Church in Wheaton,
and Karen works for Little Lambs Ministry.
karenleeseward@gmail.com
Angela (Kang, ’02) married Jeffrey Steven
Stillion on May 6 in San Francisco, Calif.,
surrounded by family and friends. Biolans who
attended were Marisa Bottolfson (’01) and
Breanna Jorgensen (’03). Angela works for
Starbucks Coffee Company as a district
manager, and Jeff is finishing his degree. They
live in Fullerton, Calif.
Bryn (’01) and Jaime (Fiktarz, ’03) Wade were
married in July 2005. They are teachers in
Downey, Calif., — Bryn at a high school, and
Jaime at an elementary school. The couple wants
to relocate to Kingwood, Texas. They said,
“Anyone who has connections, let us know.”
bryn@aol.com
Wilhelmina (Mann, ’02) married Matthew
Augustine on May 20, 2006.
Derek and Amy (Cole, ’03) Brown were
married July 23, 2005, in Los Altos, Calif.
Biolans in the wedding included Megan Cole
(’06), Michelle Warkentin (’04) and Katie
Finnerty (’03). Derek and Amy live in
Sunnyvale, Calif., where Derek is a high school
pastor, and Amy is a first-grade teacher.
Avisha (Melwani, ’03) married Kenneth
Mpemba on Dec. 17, 2005. Kenneth is from
Malawi, Africa. Avisha and Kenneth met at
church in the Bay Area, Calif., and they now live
in Kasungu, Malawi, where they are part of the
Navigators ministry there. They work with a
local high school, where their focus is on
discipleship. They said they continue to see
where God leads them in His ministries in the
years to come.
Kimberly Johnson (’04) married Brady Ryan
on Aug. 19.
Michael Musser (’05) and Kimiko (Payne,
’05) were married June 10 in Seattle, Wash.
Biolans in the wedding party included: Ryan
Thompson (’05), Brynne Price (’05), Judy
Smith (’05), Emily Haager (’05), Kimberly
Graham (’05), Rachel Novo (’05), Daniel
Reider (’05) and Jon Phelps (’07). Michael and
Kimiko make their home in Long Beach, Calif.
Michael is a freelance graphic designer and a
graphic designer for Biola in the Integrated
Marketing Communications department, and
Kimiko is pursuing her master’s degree in
speech-language pathology at California State
University, Long Beach.
Anna (Sorrels, ’05) and Austin Nielsen were
married on March 4, in San Diego, Calif. Biolans
in the wedding were Laurel Jones (’05), Kelly
(Van Deusen, ’05) Wright, Becca Henriksen
(’07), Jory Keller (’01), and Jeff Edwards (’98).
Anna and Austin live in San Diego, where Anna
works with Heart to Heart International
Ministries, and Austin works with 4-D
Neuroimaging. anna@h2hint.org
Births
Adam (’86, M.A. ’91) and Grace Edgerly
announce the birth of their daughter, Harper
Abigail.
Steven Saylar (’87) and his wife, Tamara, are
pleased to announce the birth of their second
child, Tanner Luke, born May 1. Tanner joins his
older brother, Slater (2). The family lives in Elk
Grove, Calif. saylar4@aol.com
Doug (’88) and Elaine (Ong, ’90) Entz joyfully
announce the birth of Mark Riley, born Sept. 11,
2005. Mark is greatly loved by Katelyn (11), Drew
(9) and Cassidy (6). The family enjoys living in
BIOLA CONNECTIONS FALL ’06
the country, outside of Wichita, Kan. Doug is
self-employed and manages a feed and seed
business along with his farm and orchard.
dougelaine@att.net
Jon (’89) and Karen (Hart, ’89) Swedberg
joyfully announce the birth of their daughter,
Emily Brooke. Emily was born March 2 and joins
her big brothers, Ryan (8) and Tyler (5). The
Swedberg family lives on the Monterey Peninsula,
Calif., where Jon practices as an estate
planning attorney, and Karen is a stay-at-home
mom. They say, “We know we are truly blessed to
be entrusted with our three children and are
enjoying homeschooling them.”
Kirk (’90) and Valerie (’90) McCall announce
the birth of Hannah Grace on May 10.
David and Karin (’91) Shuck announce the
adoption from Russia of their three children:
Yuri Alexander, Vera Elizabeth and Polina
Katherine. They joined the family in November
2003. David works for Boeing as an industrial
engineer. Karin primarily stays at home, but
also teaches part time at Fullerton College in
Southern California. The Shuck family lives in
La Mirada. shuck5@verizon.net
Greg (’92) and Marchand Lewis celebrate the
birth of their third child, Susanna Faye, born
March 7. She joins her twin siblings, Sam and
Elizabeth (3).
Jason and Janelle (Fredenburg, ’93) Franz
celebrate the arrival of their son, Joseph Scott,
born Feb. 27. Joseph joins his big sister,
Jacquelyn (3). The family lives in St. Petersburg,
Fla., where Jason works with the United States
Coast Guard, and Janelle is a stay-at-home
mom. jjfranz@tampabay.rr.com
Andrew (’93, M.A. ’96) and Gina Garland are
thrilled to announce the birth of their first child,
Jordan Nathaniel, on March 27. They said,
“Jordan is truly a gift from the Lord.” The
Garlands live in Covina, Calif., where Andrew
serves as an associate pastor at Grace Church
Glendora. agarland@grace-church.com
35

&
36 NEWS NOTES BIOLA CONNECTIONS FALL ’06
Vance (M.A. ’93) and Deb (Wann, ’96)
McGee are proud to announce the birth of
their son, John Wesley, on Aug. 26, 2005. He
joined his big sister, Allison Joy (3). The
McGees live in Port Gibson, Miss., where
Vance teaches Bible and theology at Chamberlain-Hunt
Academy, a Christian military
boarding school, and Deb is a stay-at-home
mom. vwmcgee@bellsouth.net
William (’94) and Riva (Boersma, ’98) Lee
celebrate the birth of their son, Tyler William.
Tyler was born Oct. 14, 2005, and joins his big
sister, Mikayla (3). Will and Riva report that
Tyler’s life is a miracle due to several complications
during labor, but the family rejoices
that he is strong and perfectly healthy. Will
and Riva live in Whittier, Calif., where Riva is
a stay-at-home mom, and Will works as a
graphic designer at a promotional company.
www.totalee.net
Chris (’95) and Jennifer (Nobles, ’95)
Nandor celebrate the birth of Lucy Abigail,
born on March 1. Chris is a programmer and
writer, working for Slashdot.org, and is
chairman of his district’s Republican party.
Jennifer takes care of the house, three dogs
and three cats. Lucy joins a proud sister, Riley
(4). The Nandor family lives in Arlington,
Wash. biola@pudge.net
Tyler (’95) and Maggie (Roersma, ’95)
Williamson announce the births of Nolan
Tyler and Lorien Carisse, born Nov. 23, 2005.
The Williamsons live in Boise, Idaho.
williamson.mac.com
Lance and Heather (Wilson, ’96) Weurding
are proud to announce the birth of their
second daughter, Jordan Grace, born on May
31, 2006. Jordan joins her sister, Reagan (3).
The family lives in Scottsdale, Ariz., where
Lance is in commercial real estate, and
Heather is a stay-at-home mom.
David and Tansy (Cheung, ’97) Ferguson
proudly announce the birth of their second
son, Jacob Alexander, born Aug. 5, 2004. He
joins his big brother, DJ (2). The Fergusons
live in Fountain Valley, Calif. David works as a
software architect for Toyota. Tansy stays busy
teaching second grade and taking care of DJ
and Jacob.
David (’97) and Mary-Catherine McAlvany
welcomed their first son, Decian Samuel, on
May 16. David joined the family precious metals
business, ICA, in 2003 (www.mcalvany.com).
Mary-Catherine is a jewelry designer and stayat-home
mom (www.mjewelrydesigns.com).
They live in Durango, Colo.
Jeremy (’97) and Candace (’03) Porras
joyfully announce the birth of their second
daughter, Alyssa Joelle, born on May 18. She
joins her older sister, Janae (1). Jeremy is a
full-time worship pastor at Florence Avenue
Foursquare Church in Santa Fe Springs, Calif.
The family enjoys living in Whittier, where
Candace feels blessed to be a stay-at-home
mom. jporras@fafc.org
Brett and Sarah (Fruehan, ’99) Ware welcomed
home their first child, a baby boy. Landon
Robert was born May 17. Brett and Sarah are in
the process of adopting him. They said they are
“overjoyed and blessed with this new bundle of
joy!” sarah@bridgeschurch.org
Bryan (’98) and Robyn (Rudd, ’99) Staples
announce the birth of Brianna Elizabeth and
Olivia Morgan on Feb. 25. They join their older
sister, Kailynne (2). Bryan is a high school
teacher in Camarillo, Calif., and Robyn is a
nursing supervisor of an intermediate care unit.
staples29@juno.com
Tim (’00) and Laura (Johnson, ’01) Brown
are pleased to announce the arrival of Joshua
Ryan, born June 11. Joshua joins his siblings,
Rachel Renee and Alex. Tim works as an agent
for Aflac insurance, and Laura is considering
a career move — joining the staff at Focus on
the Family or the faculty at Colorado Christian
University — as soon as their older kids start
school. The Browns ask for prayer as they
consider their options. They recently
relocated to Castle Rock, Colo. They said they
love living there, adding that the views are
“amazing.” laurasmschoir@yahoo.com
Kerry (Forsythe, ’01) and Jules Edouard Nau
celebrated the birth of their son, Ephraim
Nicolas, on April 2. kerrydenise@hotmail.com
Ethan (’04) and Laura Hedberg were delighted
to welcome their first child, Charis
Christine, born June 13. They live in Santa
Ana, Calif. Ethan serves as pastor of youth and
missions at Evangelical Free Church in Laguna
Hills, and Laura is a part-time preschool
teacher at their church.
Deaths
June (Baker, ’50) Kusler died on May 25 after
a 35-year struggle with Diabetes 2. Her
husband, Duane Kusler (’50, ’53), said Biola
prepared June well for her public and church
services. June enjoyed her time as Dr.
McGee’s school secretary when Biola was
located at Sixth and Hope Streets in
downtown Los Angeles. Dr. McGee could
never remember June’s name and just called
her “sister,” Duane recalls. June spent her
life as a student and teacher of God’s Word
and was a guide for many because of her
insight into God’s Word. She will be remembered
for her prayer since she expressed her
awareness of how her God showed himself
to her. She became a professional floral
designer, and her flowers were a weekly presentation
in their church service. Singing was
her joy, and she performed both classical and
religious music with the Walla Walla
Symphony Chorale and the Alderwood
Community Church choir in Lynnwood,
Wash. Her greatest joy was their grandson,
Nathan, who is now serving at the Demilitarized
Zone in Korea. June is survived by her
husband, Duane.
Visit Biola Connections online
www.biola.edu/connections

Baby Biolans
01 02
03
04 05
06 07
08
09 10
11
01) Alyssa Porras 02) Charis Hedberg 03) Hannah McCall 04) Brianna & Olivia Staples 05) Decian McAlvany
06) Mark Entz 07) Emily Swedberg 08) Tyler Lee 09) Jordan Garland 10) Joseph Franz 11) Tanner Saylar
BIOLA CONNECTIONS FALL ’06
UPDATE UPDATE YOUR
YOUR
CLASSMATES
CLASSMATES
Don’t be shy! Send in your News
& Notes and let your classmates
know what you’re up to. It’s easy.
E-MAIL
connections@biola.edu
MAIL
News & Notes,
Biola Connections,
13800 Biola Avenue,
La Mirada, CA, 90639
FAX
(562) 906-4547
(Attn: “Biola Connections”)
Please limit your updates to 60 words and
include your years of graduation.
Death announcements must be submitted
by a family member or be accompanied by
a photocopy of a published obituary.
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photos. Photo inclusion is based on space
availability. Photos will not be returned.
37

&
38 NEWS NOTES BIOLA CONNECTIONS FALL ’06
Photo Gallery
The photo on the right — taken in
Huntington Beach, Calif., by Michael
Musser (’05) — was featured in the
47th photography annual of
Communications Arts, a leading
design publication. Musser earned a
bachelor of fine arts degree with an
emphasis in design and works as a
graphic designer in Biola’s
Integrated Marketing
Communications department.
2. Finalist, Nikon Best of College Photo Contest: Marilyn Foute (’06) took this photo in Nigeria,
where she grew up, while visiting her parents who are missionaries. Foute graduated in May with
a bachelor of fine arts degree with an emphasis in photography.
3. Finalist, Nikon Best of College Photo
Contest: This photo is by Jennifer Yount
(’06), who graduated in May with a
bachelor of fine arts degree with an
emphasis in photography.

Sloppy Agape
Traditionally, John 21:15-17 has been a
rich source of what Bible scholars call
“eisegesis” — reading into the text
something the text itself does not
contain.
Some faulty translations of this passage are
based on the two different Greek verbs for
“love” that the author, John, uses when recording
a dialogue between the resurrected Jesus and
Peter. Jesus asks Peter two times, “Do you love
me,” using the verb agapao both times (vv. 15,
16). Peter responds, “I love you,” using phileo
both times. The third time Jesus asks Peter the
question, however, Jesus uses the verb phileo, as
does Peter in his response (v. 17).
It is often argued that agapao signifies a
higher form of love — divine, selfless, altruistic.
However, the most Peter will claim for his love of
Jesus is phileo love — friendship love. Such a
reading of this passage probably accounts for the
distinction the New International Version
makes in its translation, rendering “truly love”
for agapao, and “love” for phileo.
But this translation cannot be. In the
first place, it is John’s writing style to use the
verbs agapao and phileo interchangeably,
without any distinction in meaning. Thus, the
expression “the disciple whom Jesus kept on
loving” can be based on either verb (John
19:26; 20:2). Again, when John states that
the Father “loves the Son,” both verbs are
used (John 15:9; 5:20). Even in verse 17 of the
exchange between Jesus and Peter, John uses
two different Greek verbs for “know” without
any difference in meaning — “Lord you know
all things; you know that I love you.”
Second, Peter could hardly answer, “Yes,
Lord, I love you” if, in fact, he actually meant
“No, Lord, I only like you as a friend.”
Finally, it is clear that Peter got upset, not
because Jesus changed his verb in the third
question, but because Jesus asked him the same
question three times — an obvious allusion to
Peter’s threefold denial of Jesus.
If this passage is not about the two Greek
words for “love,” then what does it teach? Two
simple, but profound, truths.
The first is this: What the Lord Jesus Christ
is looking for in his disciples — in Peter, in John,
BIOLA CONNECTIONS FALL ’06 IN CONTEXT
39
and in us today — is our love above everything
else. We may think we can impress him with
our knowledge, accomplishments or bank
accounts. But if the risen Lord were to do a
heart examination on each one of us today, he
would ask us one question: “Do you love me?
Do you love me? Do you love me?” Hence the
priority of love in the New Testament (see Gal.
5:22; 1 Cor. 13:13; Rev. 2:4).
But is it enough to say the words “I love
you”? I’m sure the Lord enjoys hearing these
words from his dear children, just as we do from
ours. Yet it is all too easy to become enamored
with words and fail to back them up with actions.
And that is the second great truth in our
passage. Jesus is saying that the best way to
prove that we love him is by taking care of his
people. As he tells Peter, if you love me, then
“Feed my lambs” and “Take care of my sheep”
(vv. 15, 16, 18).
This is the same “Love Triangle” that we see
in another of John’s books, 1 John. There, John
writes, “Whoever says, ‘I love God,’ but hates his
brother is a liar. The one who doesn’t love the
brother whom he has seen can’t love a God
whom he hasn’t seen” (1 John 4:20).
And so Jesus tells Peter that his pronouncement
is not enough. Peter must show how much
he loves his Lord by humble service to others in
his name.
Love God. Love others. This is the Great
Commandment in a nutshell.
Farewell sloppy agape!
David Alan Black, Ph.D.
(’75, M.Div. ’80)
is professor of New Testament and Greek
at Southeastern Baptist Theological
Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C. He holds a B.A.
from Biola; an M.Div. from Biola’s seminary,
Talbot School of Theology; and a D.Theol. from the
University of Basel in Switzerland. He taught Greek
classes at Biola from 1976 to 1998. He also edits
www.daveblackonline.com.

Sloppy Agape
Traditionally, John 21:15-17 has been a
rich source of what Bible scholars call
“eisegesis” — reading into the text
something the text itself does not
contain.
Some faulty translations of this passage are
based on the two different Greek verbs for
“love” that the author, John, uses when recording
a dialogue between the resurrected Jesus and
Peter. Jesus asks Peter two times, “Do you love
me,” using the verb agapao both times (vv. 15,
16). Peter responds, “I love you,” using phileo
both times. The third time Jesus asks Peter the
question, however, Jesus uses the verb phileo, as
does Peter in his response (v. 17).
It is often argued that agapao signifies a
higher form of love — divine, selfless, altruistic.
However, the most Peter will claim for his love of
Jesus is phileo love — friendship love. Such a
reading of this passage probably accounts for the
distinction the New International Version
makes in its translation, rendering “truly love”
for agapao, and “love” for phileo.
But this translation cannot be. In the
first place, it is John’s writing style to use the
verbs agapao and phileo interchangeably,
without any distinction in meaning. Thus, the
expression “the disciple whom Jesus kept on
loving” can be based on either verb (John
19:26; 20:2). Again, when John states that
the Father “loves the Son,” both verbs are
used (John 15:9; 5:20). Even in verse 17 of the
exchange between Jesus and Peter, John uses
two different Greek verbs for “know” without
any difference in meaning — “Lord you know
all things; you know that I love you.”
Second, Peter could hardly answer, “Yes,
Lord, I love you” if, in fact, he actually meant
“No, Lord, I only like you as a friend.”
Finally, it is clear that Peter got upset, not
because Jesus changed his verb in the third
question, but because Jesus asked him the same
question three times — an obvious allusion to
Peter’s threefold denial of Jesus.
If this passage is not about the two Greek
words for “love,” then what does it teach? Two
simple, but profound, truths.
The first is this: What the Lord Jesus Christ
is looking for in his disciples — in Peter, in John,
BIOLA CONNECTIONS FALL ’06 IN CONTEXT
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and in us today — is our love above everything
else. We may think we can impress him with
our knowledge, accomplishments or bank
accounts. But if the risen Lord were to do a
heart examination on each one of us today, he
would ask us one question: “Do you love me?
Do you love me? Do you love me?” Hence the
priority of love in the New Testament (see Gal.
5:22; 1 Cor. 13:13; Rev. 2:4).
But is it enough to say the words “I love
you”? I’m sure the Lord enjoys hearing these
words from his dear children, just as we do from
ours. Yet it is all too easy to become enamored
with words and fail to back them up with actions.
And that is the second great truth in our
passage. Jesus is saying that the best way to
prove that we love him is by taking care of his
people. As he tells Peter, if you love me, then
“Feed my lambs” and “Take care of my sheep”
(vv. 15, 16, 18).
This is the same “Love Triangle” that we see
in another of John’s books, 1 John. There, John
writes, “Whoever says, ‘I love God,’ but hates his
brother is a liar. The one who doesn’t love the
brother whom he has seen can’t love a God
whom he hasn’t seen” (1 John 4:20).
And so Jesus tells Peter that his pronouncement
is not enough. Peter must show how much
he loves his Lord by humble service to others in
his name.
Love God. Love others. This is the Great
Commandment in a nutshell.
Farewell sloppy agape!
David Alan Black, Ph.D.
(’75, M.Div. ’80)
is professor of New Testament and Greek
at Southeastern Baptist Theological
Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C. He holds a B.A.
from Biola; an M.Div. from Biola’s seminary,
Talbot School of Theology; and a D.Theol. from the
University of Basel in Switzerland. He taught Greek
classes at Biola from 1976 to 1998. He also edits
www.daveblackonline.com.